1.3m school working days lost to mental ill health in five years

More than 1.3 million school working days have been lost in Scotland due to mental ill health reasons since April 2018. According to a freedom of information request from the Scottish Liberal Democrats, the number of school and nursery staff days lost has risen from 172,690 in 2018/19 to 301,314 in 2023/24. South Lanarkshire recorded the highest number in 2022/23 with 27,563 days lost, followed by Glasgow with 22,136 days and North Lanarkshire with 20,745 days.

Scottish Liberal Democrat education spokesperson Willie Rennie MSP expressed concern over the increasing toll of mental health absences among Scottish education staff. Rennie highlighted the challenges faced by teachers and staff, from rising classroom violence to lack of support in addressing the attainment gap, leading to a surge in absences. Rennie called for more resources and support for education staff to address these issues effectively.

In response, a Scottish Government spokesperson emphasised the importance of understanding and supporting the education workforce. The government has allocated over £2 million since October 2020 to support the wellbeing of teachers and school staff, with an additional £100,000 this year for wellbeing coaching. The Relationships and Behaviour in Schools Action Plan, published in August, includes specific actions to support the workforce.

The Scottish Government reiterated that it is crucial for local authorities to provide the necessary support and resources for teachers to fulfil their roles effectively. The government aims to ensure that teachers and staff receive the support they need to navigate the challenges they face in the education sector.

This growing concern over mental health absences among education staff highlights the need for comprehensive support systems and resources to address the well-being of teachers and nursery staff. It is imperative for stakeholders to acknowledge the challenges faced by educators and work collaboratively to create a supportive environment that promotes mental well-being within the education sector.