When we talk about learning management systems (LMSs), we’re often primarily focused on how the platform will benefit students. When the benefits to teachers are considered, it’s often in terms of how a solution will improve delivery of their teaching to students.

However, teachers are truly the foundation of an LMS. If they don’t use the platform effectively, students won’t engage with it. If teachers are resistant to change, the entire project—and its potential benefits—can fall short. Without their buy-in, it’s challenging to fully realize the benefits of the system.

At a recent event at the De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute in the Philippines, we explored how the pressures educators face, from heavy workloads to systemic challenges, impact their mental health. Let’s revisit these insights and discuss strategies to better support teachers and ensure both their wellbeing and success in their vital roles.

The 6 Biggest Hurdles to Teachers' Mental Health

Teachers face a variety of challenges that impact their mental wellbeing. These hurdles not only affect educators but also have far-reaching consequences for students and institutions alike:

1) Heavy Workloads and Large Class Sizes

Teachers often juggle excessive administrative tasks and large class sizes, which leaves them with limited opportunities to interact meaningfully with students. In the Philippines, teachers work an average of 12.7 🔗 hours a day—significantly longer than their contractual obligations. Similarly, educators in the U.S., UK, and Japan also work extended hours, averaging 10.6 🔗, 10.5 🔗, and 11.3 hours 🔗 per day, respectively. These demanding schedules underscore the significant strain teachers face in balancing high educational standards with their own self-care.

2) Financial Stress and Insufficient

CompensationIn many countries, educators are underpaid despite their essential contributions to society. In the U.S., only 34% of teachers report satisfaction with their base salary, compared to 61% of employed adults. In Latin America, a 2021 report revealed that teachers across the region face severe job insecurity, a problem exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. These challenges are especially acute wherever systemic underfunding, limited resources, and unstable teaching roles compound the financial and emotional toll on educators.

3) Lack of Mental Health

Support and ResourcesTeachers often face a lack of institutional resources to support their mental wellbeing. Globally, burnout remains a critical issue:In the U.S., 64% of faculty report experiencing burnout.In Colombia, 50% of teachers face moderate to severe burnout levels.In the UK, burnout is one of the strongest predictors of teachers' intentions to leave the profession.In the Philippines, 83% of surveyed educators reported feeling burned out from work.In Japan, teachers regularly work over 11 hours per day , which is much longer than the standard daily workday stipulated by the government.Additionally, 35% of U.S. K-12 and higher education workers state they "always" or "very often" feel burned out, the highest rate across all industries.These statistics highlight the widespread prevalence of burnout in education, with unique challenges emerging in different regions. Without adequate support, addressing these complex issues becomes increasingly difficult.