Causes of mental health issues
The research also found that workload manageability was a key factor influencing teachers’ mental health. Teachers who reported their workload as unmanageable were significantly more likely to experience depressive symptoms, which in turn were strongly associated with their intentions to leave the profession. Notably, 68.8% of teachers described their workload as largely or completely unmanageable.
“Teachers are telling us they’re overwhelmed – not by teaching itself, but by the growing burden of non-core tasks,” said Dr Granziera. “Administrative duties, compliance requirements, and excessive data collection are taking time away from lesson planning and student engagement. This is leading to burnout and a sense of professional disillusionment.”
Impact on education
The study’s findings come at a time when Australia is facing a critical teacher shortage. According to recent data from the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership, up to 30% of teachers are considering leaving the profession before retirement age. The results shown in the paper add new urgency to these concerns, showing that poor mental health – particularly depression – is a significant predictor of turnover intentions.
“This research provides clear evidence that improving teachers’ working conditions is not just beneficial – it’s essential,” said Dr Granziera. “If we want to retain skilled educators and ensure quality education for all students, we must address the root causes of teacher stress and mental health decline.”
The study also highlighted disparities based on location, with teachers in rural and remote areas reporting higher levels of depressive symptoms. Female teachers were also more likely to report depressive symptoms and turnover intentions, reflecting broader trends in occupational mental health.
What needs to change
In response to these findings, the research team is calling for a multi-pronged approach to support teacher wellbeing, including:
Policy reforms to reduce non-essential workload and streamline administrative processes
School-level monitoring of teacher wellbeing and workload
Investment in digital mental health programs tailored for educators, allowing flexible, self-paced support
System-wide interventions to support teacher retention and reduce burnout.
The study took place between October 2022 and May 2024, with recruitment via the Black Dog Institute website and social media channels using targeted social media outreach and teacher-specific platforms.
“This is one of the largest and most comprehensive studies of teacher mental health in Australia,” said Dr Granziera. “It provides a clear and urgent message: our teachers are struggling, and they need support.”
The implications of these findings extend beyond the classroom. Poor teacher mental health has been linked to lower student achievement, reduced classroom quality, and diminished student wellbeing.
“Teachers’ mental health is intricately related to students’ outcomes, both in terms of students’ mental health themselves, but also students’ academic achievement,” says Dr Granziera.
“It’s clear improving teacher wellbeing should be a priority of policy makers not just for teachers but for our education system as a whole.”