Educators Are Not Alright: Mental Health During COVID-19

Educator mental health sits at the intersection of multiple pressing educational issues. We are among the first to provide estimates of school system employee (SSE) stress, anxiety, and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic. Most participants reported clinically meaningful anxiety and depressive symptoms (77.96% and 53.65%, respectively). Being in the lowest strata of family income was associated with higher stress, a greater likelihood of clinically significant depressive symptoms, and reduced intentions to continue in the same job, portending the current staffing shortages affecting schools. Supporting SSE mental health should become a policy priority.

Automated summary

Educator mental health is connected to several urgent educational issues. A study found that during the COVID-19 pandemic, a majority of school system employees experienced clinically significant anxiety and depressive symptoms. Lower family income was associated with higher stress levels, more severe depressive symptoms, and decreased intentions to stay in the same job, contributing to the current staffing shortages in schools. Supporting the mental health of educators should be prioritized as a policy.