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The Whispers by Greg Howard - When Ella's dad refuses to let her have cool school shoes or stay up later than 9:30, Ella decides to take things into her own hands - daily new children's book #ukedchat#readingrockshttps://t.co/AFKYR005Px
#UKEdChat Q1
Does your school have formal procedures to help staff help someone showing signs of depression? Policies? Dedicated member of staff? etc.
▶Please use the hashtag & A1◀
A1. #UKEdChat I think schools are starting to wake up to the responsibility, but still need to take major steps to develop policies and *properly* support staff who mask symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress.
#UKEdChat Q1 again
Does your school have formal procedures to help staff help someone showing signs of depression? Policies? Dedicated member of staff? etc.
▶Please use the hashtag & A1◀
#UKEdChat Q1 again
Does your school have formal procedures to help staff help someone showing signs of depression? Policies? Dedicated member of staff? etc.
▶Please use the hashtag & A1◀
What we need to know when trying to help students with depression is that there is no single cause for it. It is our duty to help them avoid blaming themselves. Find something that is interesting to them, get them to trust you and talk about what's bothering them. #ukedchat
Released the first episode of our School news show today. Very proud of all the children in the club. They planned, filmed and edited themselves and the positive feedback is great. #journalism#teacher#ukedchat
A2. Am currently reading @johannhari101 ’s excellent Lost Connections book #ukedchat - which should be read by anyone affected by depression and anxiety. A true eye-opener - See https://t.co/k3EyK2cww3
Having read @johannhari101 ’s excellent book, I am coming to the conclusion that depression is created by messages within western culture and society. It is treated so differently in far eastern cultures #ukedchathttps://t.co/k3EyK2cww3
Why are teachers anxious and depressed, for example? Well, is it any wonder with the messages received by the profession from politicians, the media, and society as a whole? #ukedchat It’s not about assumed respect, but society valuing the profession.
#UKEdChat Q2 again
What training have you had in identifying and supporting people with depression (and wider mental health)?
▶Please use the hashtag & A2◀
Not that I know of. I think its an area to develop in schools but unfortunately many other elements get in the way. Sadly these elements are often the cause. Difficult cycle to break. #ukedchat
Where there’s a will….. #ukedchat Also, what teacher is going to publicly announce that they are anxious and depressed. Still seen as a huge sign of weakness. Easier to mask and suffer :-(
Not that I know of. I think its an area to develop in schools but unfortunately many other elements get in the way. Sadly these elements are often the cause. Difficult cycle to break. #ukedchat
Completely #ukedchat - We’re too quick to advocate the pills, whereas many symptoms can be addressed by simple strategies. We just need to connect to the beings we are - social and nature. It’s not rocket science, but many have forgotten :-(
In reply to
@stokoes_views, @teagloUK, @ukedchat, @johannhari101
I was meaning as a school its hard to break the cycle, so many policies to crerate & follow its hard to focus on non-statutory elements, however valuable. #ukedchat
Fair enough #ukedchat Would argue that a policy isn’t probably necessary, but an assurance and commitment from managers, leaders and all staff to forget the power politics of schools and start caring for each other.
OK - let’s ask the question to everyone. Answer publicly, or just privately mull over this question:
If you were suffering from anxiety or depression, would you openly admit it within your school (and to yourself)?
#ukedchat
Agreed - but in some places that means a change in culture & management style which isn't easy to achieve. The problem needs addressing at root if we are to solve it wholly. #ukedchat
Indeed. The number of cases we hear of about WRS (Work Related Stress) from teachers is very worrying. Power politics, cliques, workload pressure etc. Not all schools, but certainly in a large majority #ukedchat
I think that completely depends on the response that you expect to get. Only those in desperate need would admit to having depression in an environment where they know it will be stigmatised. #ukedchat
Another great day working on #IsleofMan, after only 1 year of my work on #LGBT+ inclusion we are already seeing hard evidence of positive impact within the Island education community. Tonight I led a staff meeting for primary/ secondary colleagues at Ramsey Grammar. #UKEdChat
School leaders should work to help teachers take better care of their own well being and mental health in order to protect it rather than treat it. #ukedchat
I have a problem with the term ‘mental’ health, as I feel it is loaded. I prefer the term ‘emotional health’, as this can take some of the stigma away #ukedchat I take your point though, although what are the priorities of (some) leaders? Results! You can’t blame them :-(
A3 I have a lack of knowledge in this area but from what little I do know, what might be a sign of depression for one person won’t be for another. Like pupils, would it not be all about knowing your colleagues and cultivating genuine relationships with them? #ukedchat
One would hope so, and that colleagues within the school would see it as a priority to support and enable a teacher with depression to carry on doing what they do in the classroom. However, I suspect that some people think that this is too difficult. Alas! #ukedchat
I'd guess it lies within workload, unnecessary paperwork, pressures of targets, etc so the system & the way it is monitored & assessed could be seen as the problem - government level #ukedchat
Yes, agree that the term is loaded. If workload was having a consistent impact on physical health of teachers, would it be more of a priority? #ukedchat
You are an amazing person Blair, and your enthusiasm in the profession shines through. For colleagues, hiding symptoms becomes an art, and the changes can be very subtle. #ukedchat Relationships and connections are key :-)
A4 Taking that time at the end of the day to share a cup of tea, laugh together, share the ups and downs of the day, checking in with each other #ukedchat
Difficult when some colleague may still hold some outdated opinions of anxiety and depression #ukedchat “Oh get a grip…”, and so on. Attitudes need to be challenged
#UKEdChat Q5
If that is their choice, how can staff support a member of staff who wants to continue teaching through a period of depression?
▶Please use the hashtag & A5◀
This can be a clue. Those people who are always ‘too busy’ to sit down, talk and drink tea could be hiding symptoms aligned to anxiety and depression #ukedchat This is what I mean by the subtle changes in a person.
Completely. That’s what was eluded to earlier on. Often, with anxiety and depression, the root causes are external and manifest within a person, who feels like a failure and unable to keep up. #ukedchat Gvts pay lip service, but they could change it immediately.
#UKEdChat Q5 again
If that is their choice, how can staff support a member of staff who wants to continue teaching through a period of depression?
▶Please use the hashtag & A5◀
I did and I hardly told anyone. Then I ended up being signed off with stress and leaving my job. Nowadays I’d be more open about it, I think. Hard to say, though, and everyone (and every school) is different.
I did and I hardly told anyone. Then I ended up being signed off with stress and leaving my job. Nowadays I’d be more open about it, I think. Hard to say, though, and everyone (and every school) is different.
I did and I hardly told anyone. Then I ended up being signed off with stress and leaving my job. Nowadays I’d be more open about it, I think. Hard to say, though, and everyone (and every school) is different.
A4 Just be nice to each other! Some teachers are real bullies (perhaps without realising it) and I think we just need to stop before we make comments to colleagues and reflect on whether the comment will be hurtful or helpful.
It is (speaking from experience), but something will break at some point #ukedchat You cannot operate at normal capacity, I’ll agree with you there :-)
#UKEdChat Tell them that you're there for them, if they want a good conversation, or just a short chat with a cup of coffee, in the comfort of their own home. And if they want to be alone, don't bother them with your questions.
A4 Just be nice to each other! Some teachers are real bullies (perhaps without realising it) and I think we just need to stop before we make comments to colleagues and reflect on whether the comment will be hurtful or helpful.
A private message (note, or text message) showing that you care and are there to support them can go a LONG way in making someone feel good about themselves #ukedchat
A3 - it varies so much from one person to the next and one episode to the next. Could be withdrawal from those around you, being quieter than usual, lack of confidence, but then sometimes over-compensating by being the loud funny one, going out all the time, attention-seeking.
A3 - it varies so much from one person to the next and one episode to the next. Could be withdrawal from those around you, being quieter than usual, lack of confidence, but then sometimes over-compensating by being the loud funny one, going out all the time, attention-seeking.
I did on a ‘need to know’ basis, after being signed off with anxiety because everything was too much. I am much more open about discussing it now but still feel worried about looking like “I can’t cope” when I’m having a bad day.
I did on a ‘need to know’ basis, after being signed off with anxiety because everything was too much. I am much more open about discussing it now but still feel worried about looking like “I can’t cope” when I’m having a bad day.
Why are teachers anxious and depressed, for example? Well, is it any wonder with the messages received by the profession from politicians, the media, and society as a whole? #ukedchat It’s not about assumed respect, but society valuing the profession.
Fascinating A7 #ukedchat As teachers, we are more inclined to recognise, support and react to our students struggling with their emotional health. We’ll go that extra step for them, where possible. Not necessarily for our colleagues #ukedchat What’s that all about?
I’m so passionate about it that I’ve created a teacher planner that incorporates elements of wellbeing like gratitude and self-care, and am donating 50p from each one to @EdSupportUK They do an amazing job ☺️ #ukedchat (I remembered the # this time 😂😂)
#UKEdChat Staff members are adults, and as an adult, you're supposed to be able to "cope with the problem". Teenagers need help, because they're younger. "They can't solve this on their own."
A6 #ukedchat don’t email them or contact them expecting them to reply to work-related things. There is literally nothing that will exacerbate anxiety/depression more than pressure from colleagues when you’re off sick! (Speaking from experience)
So, as adults, we are supposed to have acquired the resilience of strong emotional tools to help us cope with everything life throws at us #ukedchat If only it was that simple. Our students are seen as vulnerable, so we want to support them.
Not a stigma but misunderstanding. I think there is an idea that when you say you have anxiety/are depressed, some think this just means you are “very stressed”. It’s not the case at all and if it were physical, would not be reduced this easily.
Forgive me, but I would strongly recommend to anyone who is touched by anxiety and depression (either themselves, or someone they know) to read @johannhari101 ’s Connections book (see https://t.co/k3EyK2cww3 ) #ukedchat It really helps to get a sense of why people suffer.
#UKEdChat I totally agree, it always surprises me how we can be so accommodating to pupils and aware of the pressure we place of them but, we neglect the same care when it comes to our own wellbeing!
And, more importantly, what we can do for ourselves, and others to lessen the pain of anxiety and depression #ukedchat (2/2) Again, see https://t.co/k3EyK2cww3
A2 We have had training about general well-being and signs to look out for and what to do if we are concerned about someone. The duty of care is not only for the children but also staff. #ukedchat
Also agree. I have taken the mantra of controlling what I can control. Not worrying about what other people think, as I have little influence on that apart from being nice, positive to them, and doing my best. If they have a problem with that, then that’s their problem #ukedchat
A3 Like others have said, the signs of depression can vary but often a major sign is people around the person may notice a change. I think you would need training to identify it properly. #UKEdChat
If I was suffering from anxiety or depression, I wouldn't want everyone to know. I would probably tell only one or two people I trust completely. #ukedchat
A4 Share how things are going. Sometimes it can help to admit you are struggling with something and you realise others are too. That might ease the feeling of being all alone, isolated. #ukedchat
