Virginia Teachers Get Mental Health Week Off

A school system of Virginia has stated on Wednesday that it is scheduled to stop its activities during the first week of November.

As per Superintendent Jason Kamras, Richmond Schools will suspend November 1-5 since teachers and employees are in danger of burnout.

“Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve heard directly from dozens of teachers, principals, and support staff about how stressful this year has been. Many have shared that they’re on the brink of burning out — even leaving — and it’s only October,” Kamras explained.

The demands of teaching are enormous and relentless. The stress of dealing with students, parents, and administrators can make even the most seasoned teacher feel overworked and underpaid. Teachers often find themselves burnt out, unable to cope with the demands of their job. This can happen because of a lack of support or training. These issues become even tougher during the pandemic.

Burnout is a recognizable medical condition characterized by excessive fatigue, exhaustion, irritability, difficulty concentrating, and feelings of hopelessness. The symptoms are often accompanied by depression and/or anxiety which can make burnout even more difficult to treat. Fortunately, there are steps that can be taken to help reverse the effects of burnout and increase your productivity.

During a pandemic, burnout is common. It occurs when an individual’s coping mechanisms have been exhausted. It can cause changes in behavior such as sleep disturbances, anxiety, depression, lack of energy, loss of appetite, weight loss, and more. Individuals who experience burnout often report feeling depressed, anxious, fatigued, and more isolated.

The pandemic has been tough on everyone from doctors to health care workers. It’s affected everyone from door-to-door sales to daily work activities. The pandemic has affected businesses in a variety of ways. Some businesses have been forced to close while others have had to make some difficult decisions about staffing and closures. Many business owners have been faced with a decision about whether or not to remain open during these times; some have chosen to close while others have chosen to keep