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Links for teacher stress

Support and advice for teachers

Teacher Support Network (for all teachers in England)
The Teacher Support Network offers support to teachers, lecturers and their families, regardless of age, length of service or union affiliation. It has a long track record of reaching out to teachers in crisis, and in retirement, with financial grants and residential care. It also provides a telephone service: Teacher Support Line is provided independently of your school, LEA or employer. No-one will ever know you have used this service: you don't even have to give your name if you don't want to. Teacher Support Line provides support for all teachers in England. Telephone 08000 562 561 anytime.
www.teachersupport.info/

Teacher Support Network Cymru (for all teachers in Wales)
The Teacher Support Network has a long traditional of helping teachers in Wales. It has been providing support and advice to teachers, lecturers and their dependents for nearly 125 years. It has now established Teacher Support Line Cymru for all teachers in Wales. Professional and personal support for all teachers in Wales is also available by telephoning 0800 085 5088 anytime.
www.teachersupport.info/index.cfm?a=229

The Teacher Support Line e-mail counselling service (for teachers in England)
This service is intended only for teachers in England. It is hoped to offer this service within Teacher Support Line Cymru for teachers in Wales in the future. When you submit your query, you will first receive an automatically generated acknowledgement within a few minutes depending on internet traffic and your ISP. You then get an initial reply from your assigned counsellor who will send you an e-mail containing more details on the terms and conditions of the service.
www.teachersupport.info/index.cfm?a=186

TeachersUK chatline
TeachersUK has a chat room facility for teachers to come in and chat to each other, give advice and let each other vent or just have a good old natter. Its been extremely successful so far. There is a Chat host who is a professional association local secretary. He is online between 7-8pm on a Sunday night for people to ask questions relating to difficulties at work with management etc. TeachersUK is one of the very few services like it.
http://groups.msn.com/teachersuk

UK National Workplace Bullying Advice
The web site of Tim Field's UK National Workplace Bullying Advice Line - 01235 212286 (recorded message).
www.successunlimited.co.uk/stress/health.htm

International Stress Management Association UK
The International Stress Management Association UK is a registered charity with a multi-disciplinary professional membership. It exists to promote sound knowledge and best practice in the prevention and reduction of human stress. It sets professional standards for the benefit of individuals and organisations using the services of its members.
www.isma.org.uk/

Support and advice for employers and managers

UK Health & Safety Executive
"Help on work-related stress - A short guide" is a useful official document with sensible advice for schools including fulfilment of duty of care and recommended stress risk assessment. This booklet answers some common questions about work-related stress. It explains what it is, and what you can do about it. The advice is intended specifically for managers of small firms, or organisations employing up to 50 staff. If you employ more than 50 people, you may find our more detailed guide, Tackling work-related stress: A manager's guide to improving and maintaining employee health and well-being, more useful. The booklet does not introduce any concepts that are different from good management. Our belief is that plain good management can reduce work-related stress where it is already occurring, and can prevent it in the first place..
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg281.pdf

Worklife support
Worklife Support from Teacher Support Network is working in education to assist employers to balance work and life issues for individual wellbeing and to improve school performance. Its innovative new models of support for schools and individuals are helping to create healthy schools, positive learning environments and education staff who feel appreciated and supported.
www.teachersupport.info/index.cfm?a=202

Unions and professional associations in the UK

Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL)
Stress Helpline - 08705 234 828 - freely available to members 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It is staffed by specially-trained medical staff who can provide counselling as well as advice and information on how to combat stress.
www.askatl.org.uk/home/folder.htm

National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education (NATFHE)
Stress Helpline - 08702 433055 - NATFHE members can call at any time of day or night if work or personal pressures become too much. Staffed by trained nurses and counsellors. Calls will be charged at the standard rate.
www.natfhe.org.uk

National Union of Schoolmasters/Union of Women Teachers (NAS/UWT)
www.teachersunion.org.uk

National Union of Teachers (NUT)
www.teachers.org.uk

Professional Association of Teachers (PAT)
www.pat.org.uk

Medical sites

Internet Mental Health
A a free encyclopedia of mental health information created by a Canadian psychiatrist, Dr. Phillip Long. The article "Stress Management for Patient and Physician", by Dr David B Posen, reproduced from the Canadian Journal of Continuing Medical Education (April 1995) contains advice on stress symptoms, stress management, etc.
www.mentalhealth.com/mag1/p51-str.html

STAND
STAND is a mental health charity. This web site is an information service promoting better understanding of common mental health problems, such as stress, anxiety and depression.
www.depression.org.uk


Every Family in the Land
'Every Family in the Land' is the online expanded publication of the Royal Society of Medicine's Psychiatry Section lecture programme on stigmatisation of people with mental illness. This progamme supports the Royal College of Psychiatrists' 'Changing Minds: Every family in the land' campaign and is endorsed by the College.
www.stigma.org/everyfamily/

Other sites

Relaxation audio tapes
Meditation/relaxation is one of the stress management strategies suggested by Dr David Posen. Although Dr Posen says learning these skills in groups is preferable, he recommends tapes/books where this is not practical. And that's where this website comes in: it gives independent reviews of and information on guided relaxation tapes to help people find suitable relaxation tapes. The site is non-commercial.
www.relaxation.clara.net/tapes.htm

Frustrated teachers
This site contains a wealth of useful information and advice for teachers and managers. "Frustrated Teachers" is the dedicated site for disillusioned teachers. Alternative careers, freelance teaching, stress, time management, behaviour management, teaching in the UK, forum and additional resources. The site has a commercial element with a range of e-books for sale.
www.frustratedteachers.com

Health Resources
This site includes articles and a comprehensive directory of UK health resources including stress/stress management links. The site has a commercial element, selling adjustable beds.
www.health-resources.co.uk

Burnout Solutions
A UK based service for people who are stressed and burnt out. Specialising in working internationally, with professionals who are heading for burnout & want to avoid it, the website offers telephone coaching programs, DIY recovery programme, information & extensive helpful resources.
www.burnoutsolutions.com

Your Depression Resource Guide
Information on depression, antidepressants, treatments, and symptoms.
www.MyDepression.net