In response to calls for systematic mental health management for teachers following the murder of an elementary school student in Daejeon, South Korea’s Ministry of Education and the ruling party held a meeting on Monday to discuss measures such as mandatory mental health screenings before and after teacher appointments.
In countries like the United States and Japan, regular mental health assessments are conducted on sampled teachers. These surveys form the foundation for mental health training, leave, and medical support.
According to education sector reports, the RAND Corporation, a prominent U.S. think tank, annually assesses teachers’ work-related stress, burnout, depression, and other mental health conditions nationwide.
The institute began these surveys in 2021, following concerns about teachers’ mental health stress during the COVID-19 pandemic. A survey conducted last year with 1,479 participants revealed that 19% of teachers experienced depression, a higher rate than the 12% observed in the general workforce.
In Japan, educational authorities annually sample and survey teachers’ mental health status. In 2022, a study was conducted with 42,176 elementary, middle, and high school teachers.
This focus on improving teachers’ mental well-being reflects a national priority. Kyodo News reported that in the 2022 fiscal year, 6,539 teachers took leave due to mental health issues. In response, the Chiba local government introduced a stress-check app for elementary and middle school teachers.
Based on these surveys, both countries provide training programs to help teachers monitor their mental health. Japan also offers support programs to assist teachers with mental health issues when returning to work.
Moreover, Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology launched a research initiative in 2023 to develop comprehensive mental health measures for teachers, collaborating with education boards and experts.
The ministry analyzes teachers’ working environments and mental health levels by region and age group to formulate policy recommendations and offers a 24-hour telephone counseling service for teachers.
In the United States, mental health leave is encouraged for teachers, and collaborations with local healthcare providers ensure that teachers have access to counseling services.
Professor Park Nam Ki of Gwangju National University of Education emphasized the importance of prevention in mental health strategies, stating, “The key is identifying and supporting so-called at-risk teachers early on. As seen in overseas cases, training should help teachers balance work and life.”