European Trade Union Committee for Education

The Joint Action on Mental Health and Well-being network has published two policy papers on mental health in education policies and in labour policies. Both policy papers show the benefits of including measures to support mental health and recommend actions to ensure psychological health in the education sector and the labour market. Mental health is defined as, ‘a state of wellbeing in which every individual realises their own potential, [...] can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community (WHO). Thus, mental health is not just the absence of illness’.

The policy paper on education policies explains the positive effects for children’s development and their educational and behavioural outcome of promoting mental health already in early childhood education. In order to protect pupils from mental illness, ‘violence, bullying conflicts and aggression’ need to be reduced in the education system.

The policy paper on labour policies shows that family friendly working places with a comprehensive stress management and a decent working environment maintain good mental health of workers. This has positive effects for the employers, because they do not have additional costs due to high absence rates.

Both policy papers demonstrate that mental illnesses can have damaging effects on workers and pupils. ETUCE highlights that for ensuring mental health of pupils and teachers more support for the education system is needed.

To read more about ETUCE’s work on teachers’ health and safety, please click here.