DENBIGHSHIRE Council has defended its support for teachers after an FOI request revealed over 1,700 teaching days were lost to absences caused by stress and mental health illnesses.
Earlier this week, a freedom of information (FOI) request made to Denbighshire Council revealed that the number of sick days categorised under ‘Stress, Depression, Anxiety, and Mental Health Fatigue’ in 2023/24 was 1,726.8.
The figures follow the situation faced by headteachers being described as a ‘perfect storm’ by the council’s head of finance, due to post-COVID issues affecting attendance and behaviour as well as funding issues.
But the council has said “staff wellbeing is of the utmost importance” and that ethos is at the heart of policies that ensure that “staff feel safe and heard in the workplace”.
The council also pointed to staff receiving mental health training and said a “wellbeing charter” was being developed.
Despite this, Tremeirchion independent councillor Chris Evans, who has advocated for better mental health understanding, called the figures “shocking”.
“That’s quite shocking how many teachers are affected,” he said.
“I do feel that, in some schools, teachers feel like they aren’t supported and that they are on their own and it is only the school itself who support their staff.
“Not only do the other teachers feel it because they have to pick up (more work), but then there’s a financial burden because they have to bring in (more) teachers.”
He added: “What is a major part is that teachers now are not just teachers. They also have to be types of support workers because of the needs of some children in our communities.”
A spokesman for Denbighshire County Council commented: “Staff wellbeing is of the utmost importance to the council and is at the heart of a number of staff wellbeing strategies and policies that ensure that our staff feel safe and heard in the workplace.
“The council’s education and children’s services recognise the increasing pressures on all professionals involved in working with and supporting children, and the impact it can have.
“The service works closely with all schools to support both pupil and staff wellbeing.
“The service has introduced the compassionate leadership method which supports leaders to develop a culture within their teams which responds to the increasing demands.
“The council works with teaching unions and other professional associations when developing its policies to ensure that they are well-rounded and all-inclusive to include all members of staff.
“The service, in consultation with Denbighshire’s headteachers, is in the final stages of developing a Wellbeing Charter which will cover all staff in schools, employees in education, and children’s services, as well as volunteers on governing bodies.
“Mental health training is provided to managers and staff, which includes training around becoming Mental Health First Aiders.
“Staff wellbeing is also a topic discussed at the Denbighshire Headteachers Conferences.
“In addition to the support available within schools and teams, all education staff have access to dedicated mental health and wellbeing support for teachers and education staff and the 24/7 Denbighshire Employee Assistance Programme.”
