One third of education professionals suffer from depression or anxiety, and work is a key contributor

Almost a third (32%) of education professionals are suffering from mental health issues, with nearly half (45.4%) admitting that their job is a key contributor to these feelings. That’s according to the latest research from CV-Library , the UK’s leading independent job site.

As the post-Christmas blues set in and the cold days continue, the survey of 1,200 workers sought to reveal how mental health affects workers this Blue Monday. The study found that for 83.9% of education professionals that suffer, their depression or anxiety can sometimes have a negative effect on their working life, while a further 16.1% said it always negatively impacts their working life .

When asked what it is about their job that makes them feel this way, education professionals cited the following as the top causes:

1. Doubting my abilities – 38.1%
2. Not getting on with my boss – 19%
3. Working with customers/clients – 16.7%
4. Scared of senior members of staff – 14.3%
5. Working alone – 9.5%

Furthermore, education professionals revealed the negative impact that depression and anxiety has on their ability to do their job. For the majority (60%) it makes them feel tired. After this, 20% say it means they take a lot of time off.

Lee Biggins, founder and managing director of CV-Library comments on the findings: “ While mental health is something we are beginning to talk more about across the UK, it’s clear that there’s still more that needs to be done to help those affected – especially in the workplace. It’s sad to learn that almost a third of education professionals are suffering from depression and/or anxiety, and that this is having such a negative impact on their ability to do their job.

“If you are amongst those affected, it’s time to take action. This might not always be easy, but the first step is certainly the hardest. Speak to your manager, or if you don’t feel comfortable doing that, try to talk to a trusted colleague. You should also seek help outside of work. Mental health problems are unfortunately something we can’t always escape, but there are steps we can take to make tackling these issues that little bit easier – no-one should have to suffer in silence!”

Worryingly, a quarter (24%) of education professionals revealed that their employer does not do anything to help those that suffer from these mental health issues, and a further 46.9% said that they were unsure whether their boss would help them if they needed it. Other findings include:

• The majority (92.7%) of education professionals believe that employers should be given training to help them understand mental health
• A third (27.6%) believe that organising regular one-to-one catch ups could help employers to support staff who are suffering
• After this, 20% said they’d appreciate professional help being offered through their employer and 6.9% believe paid mental health days (time off) could help

Biggins concludes: “If you are able to make your manager aware of what you’re going through, you can begin to put steps in place to help; whether that be regular catch-ups, more flexible working or time off when you need it. If your boss won’t help you to take positive steps, or isn’t very good at dealing with the situation, it could be time to look for your next opportunity elsewhere. When choosing to work for a company it’s important that you select somewhere with the right culture, and look for an employer who understands how to support those who are suffering from mental health issues.”