The first bell rings. Before the day even begins at school, a teacher has already replied to parents on WhatsApp, prepared lessons, and mentally rehearsed how to keep forty restless teenagers from switching off by Period 2.
Teaching is not just instruction, it’s constant emotional management. One anxious child, one angry parent, one syllabus update, and the day tilts.
And somehow, the teacher is expected to stay calm, cheerful, patient — no matter what.
It is the emotional load, and not just the job description, that is breaking many teachers today.
TEACHING IS MORE THAN TEACHING
Most people imagine teachers wrapping up by 3 pm. But the reality is different. Many carry work home: checking homework or grading assignments, planning the next classes, learning constantly updated syllabi, or simply decompressing from a day of noise, demands and emotional labour.
What the payslip reflects rarely matches the size of the workday. Private-school salaries often fall in the Rs 15,000 to Rs30,000 per month range for early-career teachers, with mid-career pay usually noted between Rs 35,000 to Rs 50,000 per month.
Government teachers may be better paid, but the gap between workload and recognition remains. Even with seniority, prestige doesn’t always follow.
Teachers hold classrooms together with invisible skills such as emotional steadiness, crisis management, a sense of fairness, and the ability to read the mood of the room within seconds.
These demands are rarely recognised formally, yet they form the spine of a healthy school environment.
TEACHER BURNOUT IS NOW COMMON
“Yes, there has been a noticeable rise in teacher burnout,” says Rutuja Varade, psychologist at Mpower (Aditya Birla Education Trust). Teachers juggle multiple responsibilities, she says — “their own health, household duties, and classroom expectations simultaneously.”
Their work doesn’t end at the school gates. Returning home doesn’t mean rest; family responsibilities continue. It’s a double shift, and sometimes a triple one.
Major stressors stack up: poor or irregular eating habits, long hours, frequent syllabus changes, constant classroom vigilance, and the pressure to appear endlessly energetic.
For many, Sundays are simply a buffer between two weeks of pressure.
Academic work on burnout in India tracks similar patterns: emotional fatigue, detachment and a collapsing sense of achievement. These are the result of a faulty system rather than any personality issue.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN TEACHERS ARE RUNNING ON EMPTY
“When teachers are overworked or emotionally drained, it significantly impacts classroom dynamics and student mental health,” Rutuja says.
She explains that their ability to manage class and keep students engaged weakens. Irritability rises. The tone shifts. A teacher who once went the extra mile may now simply try to get through the day.
“Students often view teachers as role models,” she notes. So, when teachers struggle emotionally, young people quickly pick up the mood — some mirror it, others withdraw.
A classroom is a micro-culture. And when the adult in the room is exhausted, the whole culture sours.
Teachers may not intend harm, but low bandwidth means less patience, shorter attention to emotional cues of students, and limited ability to respond gently.
For students who already carry pressure from home, coaching classes or social expectations, that shift can tip the balance.
WHEN STUDENTS BECOME THE COLLATERAL
India’s student distress numbers tell their own story. News reports and government data analyses show student suicides rising sharply over the last decade, with estimates of more than 13,000 students dying by suicide in recent years.
Some analyses report nearly 65% growth in student suicides over ten years, which is an alarming curve.
This data is a warning signal, spelling serious problems in the education system in India. Every number represents a community that missed cues: a teacher too stretched to notice, a parent too busy to ask twice, and a system focused more on marks than minds.
We cannot talk about saving students without supporting the adults closest to them.
HOW SCHOOLS CAN HELP WITHOUT EXTRA BURDEN
Schools don’t need complicated new structures to support staff. Small shifts go a long way.
“Schools can support teachers’ mental health by organising need-based mental health workshops that provide practical coping strategies,” Rutuja says.
A few simple steps she suggests are:
- Short breaks or planning periods to recharge
- Flexible schedules where possible
- More activity-based or collaborative learning to distribute classroom load
- A culture where teachers can openly talk about challenges
These changes aren’t expensive; they just require intent.
SPOTTING TROUBLE BEFORE IT GETS WORSE
“Low mood or emotional withdrawal, decreased efficiency, irritability or frustration, physical symptoms, reduced social interaction” — these are the signs Rutuja wants schools to watch for when it comes to teacher burnout.
A teacher who once chatted in the staff-room but is suddenly withdrawn is signalling a problem. Someone routinely staying late because they can’t focus in the day may need help, not more responsibility.
Early intervention could be as simple as:
- A confidential check-in
- A lighter schedule temporarily
- Access to counselling
Saving a teacher’s wellbeing can indirectly save students’ emotional lives too.
MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING MAKES A DIFFERENCE
Rutuja is clear: “Yes, it would be highly beneficial to make mental health training mandatory for teachers.”
It serves two purposes: Teachers understand their own mental health better, and they can recognise distress in students early.
Given how much time children spend in school, teachers often see changes before anyone else. Equipping them with basic mental-health literacy could mean the difference between a child getting timely help or slipping through the cracks.
PARENTS ARE HALF THE EQUATION
“It is very important to involve both teachers and parents in addressing student distress or suicide concerns,” Rutuja stresses.
Schools see one part of a child’s day; homes see the rest. When these two aspects of crucial information isn’t shared with the other party, important signals get lost.
Parents who understand the emotional reality of teachers — and collaborate rather than confront — create safer environments for children. Joint wellbeing sessions, parent circles and simple awareness workshops can build bridges.
The solution isn’t about assigning blame but about a much-needed partnership to protect all those involved.
A QUIET REVOLUTION
None of the things that schools need to protect the mental health of teachers need any dramatic new spending:
- A counsellor (full-time or shared)
- Sensible workloads
- Protected planning time
- Basic mental-health training
- A culture that listens
The teacher salaries may take longer to fix — that’s a policy fight — but care, collaboration and recognition can begin now.
“By learning to recognise emotions and mental health concerns, teachers can provide timely support and guidance, helping students manage their feelings better,” Rutuja says.
When teachers are supported, classrooms become safer for everyone.
Because when a teacher breaks, the cracks rarely stop at the staff-room door. They run straight into the lives of children.
And that makes teacher wellbeing not a luxury, but a necessity.
– Ends
