Teaching Teachers to De-stress

In a study published in 2000 in the International Journal of Stress
Management, 67 percent of teachers surveyed described their jobs as
"extremely stressful," and stressed teachers could hinder your child's
education. Researchers at Optum, a health research center in Minnesota,
decided to test programs aimed at reducing stress and improving employee
health.

The yearlong study gave teachers at a local school three different
stress-relief interventions: stress and depression management seminars;
relaxation and breathing exercise workshops; and a kit containing health
and stress relief information. The teachers rated their personal stress
levels before and after the study and reported significantly lower levels
at the end of the year than teachers at nearby schools who did not
participate in the program.

Though all three interventions alleviated teacher stress, Mark
Attridge, Ph.D., director of research and analysis at Optum and the
study's lead researcher, notes that they worked partially because the
school's administrative staff acknowledged and addressed the issue.
Opening the lines of communication made stress relief an organizational
problem, so teachers felt more comfortable suggesting solutions. "The
teachers and staff were able to form more of a support system that
boosted morale and opened up the discussion of problem-solving," Attridge
says.