How To Maintain Mental Health For Teachers

Guru (Pixabay)

JAKARTA The Teacher Community of the Sharing Satkaara (KGSB), together with the Psychological Study Program, FISIP, Universitas Brawijaya and Tupperware Indonesia, held a webinar entitled "Keep Teacher Mental Health, Beware of Symptoms and Impacts of Burnout Teachers". This event was held to commemorate World Mental Health Day which falls on October 10.

The global theme carried out in 2024 is "Time to Prioritize Mental Health in Work" (It is Time to Prioritize Mental Health in the Workplace). This theme is relevant to the challenges faced by teachers as educators in a stressful schoolwork environment.

This KGSB webinar was attended by more than 200 educators from all over Indonesia and Timor Leste which was held on Saturday, October 26, 2024.

The chairman of KGSB, Ardyles Faesilio in his speech emphasized the importance of attention to the mental health of teachers. "Teachers are the spearhead of education in schools. However, without good mental health, a teacher will not be able to be optimal in educating his students. This webinar is a reflection and reminder for all of us to always maintain a balance of emotions and mentality, especially in a school environment full of challenges," said Lio.

Burnout is a condition of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion that teachers often don't realize. Teacher professions have a very high stress level, as stated in the RAND Corporation survey in 2022, where 73% of teachers report experiencing frequent stress related to work.

In addition, 59% of them feel burned out, while another 28% claim to experience symptoms of depression. The survey also revealed that 77% of teachers felt that their poor mental health conditions had a negative impact on students' mental health in class, and 85% stated that it affected their learning planning.

Lio added that this Webinar aims to help teachers recognize the symptoms of teacher burnouts, perhaps in order to be prevented and handled properly. In addition, it also provides a comprehensive understanding of the importance of maintaining mental health in order to support the duties of teachers as educators to be more optimal," he said.

This KGSB webinar presents Naila Kamaliya, M.Psi., Psychologist, lecturer at the Psychological Study Program, FISIP, Universitas Brawijaya, as the main resource person who discusses in-depth the burnout, the cause, and how to deal with it. Naila in this webinar emphasizes the factors and ways to deal with burnout.

Naila explained,burnout on teachers often arises from high work pressure and lack of support in the work environment. Maintaining mental health is very important so that teachers can still give the best for students. Spending time on rest, sharing stories with colleagues, and maintaining good relationships with family are some powerful ways to overcome excessive fatigue. With these simple steps, teachers can stay focused, full of energy, and continue to be enthusiastic in inspiring the next generation.

Burnout to teachers is not only about physical fatigue, but also emotional stress that is often neglected. One way to prevent this is to recognize personal boundaries and seek support from the surrounding environment. When teachers feel supported and have time to rest, they will be better able to face teaching challenges in peace and full of energy. said Naila

Teacher mental health plays a crucial role in determining the quality of learning in schools. Teachers who are emotionally stable and able to manage stress can create a better and more productive learning atmosphere for students. This webinar also provides strategies for teachers to maintain mental health and ensure a conducive learning environment.

Collaboration For Teacher Mental Welfare

This webinar is part of KGSB's ongoing efforts to empower educators throughout Indonesia. Through the support of the Program for Psychological Studies, FISIP, Universitas Brawijaya and Tupperware Indonesia, KGSB shows its commitment not only to developing academic competencies, but also to the psychological well-being of educators. This collaboration is expected to help teachers to understand the importance of maintaining their mental health.

Head of Marketing of PT Tupperware Indonesia, Maretta Ria Netty said that her party supports this event as part of the company's social responsibility in education. We continue to pay attention to aspects that can improve the quality of education in Indonesia. Maintaining the mental health of teachers is an important aspect in the teaching and learning process. Tupperware Indonesia is committed to supporting this activity and is very happy to collaborate with KGSB as well as the Psychological Study Program, FISIP, Universitas Brawijaya," concluded Marchta.