Teachers are turning to antidepressants and alcohol to cope with workplace stress, a survey has found.

More than four-fifths (84 per cent) of teachers have experienced more work-related stress in the last year, according to a poll by NASUWT teaching union.

A survey of 11,754 NASUWT members in the UK between October and December last year showed that 86% of teachers believed their work had had a negative impact on their mental health in the past 12 months.

The findings were released at the union’s annual conference in Harrogate, Yorkshire, over the Easter weekend.

Delegates to a NASUWT conference will debate a motion on Sunday calling for suicide prevention training for all school leaders and full funding for mandatory mental health training in all schools and colleges.

The motion warns of an “increase in suicides, suicide attempts and suicidal thoughts within the teaching profession” and says unions fear the numbers will rise.

Too many teachers’ health is being compromised, while others are leaving the profession to save their sanity

Patrick Roach, NASUWT Secretary General

It added that workplace stress was causing a “mental health emergency” within the sector, with teachers’ health reaching “crisis point”.

The NASUWT poll shows that nearly a quarter (23%) of teachers have increased their alcohol intake due to work in the past year, while 12% report using or increasing dependence on antidepressants.

Three per cent of members surveyed said they had self-harmed at work in the past 12 months.

The previous year, Ofsted came under heightened scrutiny following the suicide of headteacher Ruth Perry.

Perry came after an Ofsted report downgraded her Caversham Primary School in Reading, Berkshire, from the highest to the lowest rating due to safety and security concerns. The lady committed suicide.

NASUWT representatives passed another motion at Friday’s annual meeting calling on the union executive to work with inspection bodies across the UK to provide guidance on how to further prioritize welfare and wellbeing, and to treat inspections as a supportive process.

It’s important to get through the day rather than enjoy it

NASUWT members who responded to the survey

More than two-thirds (68%) of teachers believe their work has had a negative impact on their physical health in the past 12 months, a NASUWT poll shows.

One teacher surveyed said they “vomited from stress before going to work” and cried at work because of “poor student performance”, which prevented them from attending classes.

Another said: “My energy has never been this low. I’ve never felt so anxious and unsure of myself.

“I feel like my bucket is full most of the time at work and I may not be able to handle challenging students as well as I normally would.”

“It’s about getting through the day, not enjoying it,” another respondent said.

Patrick Roach, general secretary of NASUWT, said: “No one should be on the verge of ending their life because of their job.

“We need a two-pronged approach to tackling the prevalence of mental illness in the teaching profession, both by addressing the factors that contribute to workplace stress and by building stronger support systems for teachers and school leaders.”

Dr Roach said teacher health was “getting worse”.

He added: “It’s clear that our schools and colleges also need better wellbeing support to help teachers manage their mental health and cope with their demanding jobs.

“Maintaining the status quo is not an option. Too many teachers’ health is being compromised, and some are leaving the profession to save their sanity.

“There is no inherent reason why teaching should have such high burnout levels. Things can and should be different, and we need the next administration to work with us to return teaching to a profession where teachers can thrive, not just Struggle for survival.”

A spokesman for the Department for Education (DfE) said: “We recognize the excellent work that school principals, teachers and other staff do and we take their welfare very seriously.

“Our Staff Wellbeing Charter for Education ensures staff wellbeing policies are embedded in school culture, while expanding on our £2m investment in providing professional oversight and advice to school and college leaders.”

For mental health support, contact Samaritans on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org or visit samaritans.org to find your nearest branch.