In Depth: Chinese Teachers’ Mental Health Crisis

[para. 1] After four years as a high school teacher, Chen Jun experienced severe health issues, including weight gain and mental health struggles. [para. 2] Her school in Kunming adopted the “Hengshui model,” a strict educational approach aimed at excelling in national exams.

[para. 3] Chen was required to arrive before 7 a.m. for student supervision, irrespective of late-night duties, and faced reprimands for tardiness. [para. 4] To manage this pressure, she set multiple alarms but still couldn’t sleep well. She frequently woke in a panic, filled with anxiety over being late. [para. 5] Despite seeking treatment and receiving medication, its side effects rendered her unable to maintain her personal and professional life. Her salary of under 4,000 yuan made paying for ongoing psychological counseling unaffordable.

[para. 6] Although Chen’s situation is extreme, it’s not unique. [para. 7] A study surveying over 550,000 teachers revealed that from 2000 to 2022, 16.1% of Chinese teachers faced mental health issues, a figure that rises to 17.8% when excluding preschool teachers. [para. 8] Yu Guoliang, who led the study at Renmin University, lamented the lack of attention on teachers' mental health despite global awareness.

[para. 9] Comparatively, teachers are worse off mentally than other professions, with another study showing lower depression rates among office workers, civil servants, and factory workers. [para. 10] Yu emphasized this issue not only affects teachers personally but also impacts China’s educational system.

[para. 11][para. 12] In 2021, China’s “double reduction” policy sought to reduce student workloads, ironically leading to increased teacher stress due to extended work hours without a decrease in educational demands, as reported by Fang Jie from Shanghai. [para. 14] Schools expect teachers even to monitor students during what were previously breaks, adding pressure without addressing systemic issues, says Fang. Despite policy changes, exam and textbook challenges remain, making workload reduction difficult.

[para. 17][para. 18] Additionally, teachers feel drained by responsibilities beyond teaching, including parent interactions without sufficient school support. Fang shared an incident involving a parent’s delayed grievance, revealing the long-standing issues teachers face with inadequate backup from school leadership. [para. 19] Post-surgery meeting for cancer, Fang’s contract wasn’t renewed, highlighting the profession’s stress-related health risks.

[para. 22] In 2023, a young teacher in Henan province committed suicide, overwhelmed by non-teaching duties, accentuating the systemic problem undermining teachers’ focus on education, which was also noted during the legislative “Two Sessions,” stressing the need to alleviate teachers’ burdens.

[para. 23][para. 24] A survey by Chen Guiyun indicated that teachers face numerous non-teaching tasks, including complex paperwork, overshadowing their main roles. Many feel their salaries do not fairly compensate for their workload.

[para. 26] Recent policies have aimed to mitigate teachers' workload, with some provinces limiting non-teachings assignments. Despite these measures, Yu argues that they address symptoms, not root causes, advocating for proactive policies and creating a supportive network involving government, schools, and families for teacher mental health.

[para. 27][para. 28] Ahead of Teacher’s Day, the Ministry of Education planned measures to ensure teacher salaries align with local civil servants and bolster support for rural teachers, emphasizing legal rest periods and safeguarding rights.