COVID-19 and Mental Health of Teachers

Jelicel P. Manalo

Teachers’ responsibilities are beyond limit and in this time of pandemic, it has been emotionally exhausting for everyone. To ensure the continuity of education, the department of education has implemented the Distance Learning modality and adapting to this change has not been easy.

The period of adjustment and anxiety brought about by the pandemic has affected the teachers’ mental health and we need to protect each other. Protecting the mental health begins within our self. First, we need to admit our feelings, no matter what feeling it is, guilt, sadness, loneliness, fear, anxiety, insomnia, and many other things that makes us feel down in a consistent way. Admitting this will help us find ways on how to cope up with this kind of things, we are not alone and many of us are facing the same challenges. Taking care of ourselves can help us to take care of others as well. In this time of worldwide lockdown and social distancing, it is important to stay connected with our loved ones.

We are fortunate that our Department helps us in many ways as possible. There are series of Psychosocial Support and Training for parents, teachers, school heads and identified DepEd region and division non-teaching personnel as the opening of School Year 2020-2021 approaches. This aims to guide the participants to practice positive coping strategies like setting up routines and work-from-home practices, arts-based coping strategies, and mindfulness meditation. DepEd personnel who are not reached by this session shall be provided with psychosocial support by the region or division through alternative means like phone calls or faceto-face subject to physical distancing measures and localized preventive measures.

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The author is Master Teacher I at St. Vincent of Quebiawan Integrated

School