Mental health is a critical part of someone’s overall health, making it possible for human beings to overcome many challenges in life, achieve their potentials, and have respectful, meaningful lives. For teachers, mental health is even more critical, considering the huge manpower resource they wield and their consequent impact on the students and the general learning environment.
Mental Health at the TSC Retooling Session
To meet the challenges of this mental health condition, Dr. Nakhisa Kusimba underscored the significance of teachers at a retooling session organized by TSC in West Pokot. Addressing the Junior Secondary School teachers, who were in their thousands, Dr. Kusimba highlighted several risks that could lead to mental health, especially during the early life of an individual. Some factors to compromise a child’s mental health include harsh parenting, excess physical punishment, and bullying, stimulants that could lead to lifetime mental health conditions.
The doctor observed that sometimes a victim of such negative experiences could be anyone, and this could compromise their mental well-being up to adulthood. It is, therefore, important for teachers to learn how to deal with their mental well-being and the mental well-being of their learners for the better.
Mental Health Challenges of Teachers
A grave concern raised by Dr. Kusimba is that the financial strain many teachers face is responsible for pushing them into deep depression. He warned teachers against overcommitting their salaries to several of these microfinance institutions and betting as these unfortunate instances eventually land one into high indebtedness causing depression. According to Dr. Kusimba, a sad statistic has it that in the last three years, 100 teachers have committed suicide because of pressure linked to finances.
A demographic survey carried out in Kenya specifies that financial stress among female teachers in the country is pushing half of them to the brink. In addition, 28 percent of educators exhibit symptoms of depression, pointing to the fact that financial management constitutes a major source of stress for a huge majority of the teaching community. Financial management a serious challenge among a good percentage of the teaching force.
According to Amos Ngesike, the Deputy Principal, Chewoyet National School, this is a global issue seeing 703,000 people die from suicide across the world in a year. He said one should appreciate that everyone has different mindsets as there are those born already with a high level of psychic energy – they are very sensitive and highly reactive to stress. Apparently, stress models a person’s acquired blend of individual inborn characteristics into a more normal yet unique basic personality structure.
A More Practical Approach to Mental Health
Ngesike concluded his presentation on mental health advice to teachers with some very practical tips:
- Regular Exercise: Engaging in daily physical activity can significantly improve mental well-being.
- Healthy Eating: Maintaining a balanced diet is crucial for both physical and mental health.
- Positive Thinking: Focusing on positive aspects of life can help mitigate stress.
- Prioritizing Sleep: Ensuring adequate sleep is essential for mental and physical health.
- Avoiding Substance Abuse: Limiting or avoiding alcohol and drug use is important for maintaining mental health.
- Financial Prudence: Avoiding impulsive spending and managing finances wisely can reduce stress.
- Healthy Relationships: Surrounding oneself with supportive friends and avoiding toxic relationships can enhance mental well-being.