OPSIG Webinar | Teachers’ mental health and the hazards of a profession; occupational psychiatry for the education sector

Teachers’ mental health and the hazards of a profession; occupational psychiatry for the education sector

The teaching profession is never far from scrutiny, with the education sector closely regulated and public interest levels high. This work can be deeply rewarding, developing young people and working for social justice, but also challenging and demanding. We can all think of teachers who have impacted our lives – as occupationally focused psychiatrists and clinicians we might find ourselves in a position to make a difference for individuals too. As occupational clinicians we need to understand the environment and workplace hazards in context to be our most effective.

The OPSIG is delighted to continue our series of occupational sector events with a Webinar on teachers’ mental health and the hazards of a profession. We would be delighted for you to join us online on Monday 16 September 2024 from 3PM– 5PM. We will follow our successful format, and previous sessions focused on doctors and more recently pilots, with a cross-sector insight followed by panel questions and discussion. Our excellent panel of speakers are:

• Pepe Di’lasio is the General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, who until recently has been a Headteacher in Rotherham for over a decade. He will bring us unique insight into the pressure on leaders of schools including the requirements of regulation and governance, so we can better understand stress involved in delivering education for young people.
• Sinéad McBrearty is the CEO of Education Support, the only UK charity dedicated to supporting the mental health of teachers and everyone working in education. She will share the charity’s own research and perspectives on overcoming the unique occupational hazards of the teaching profession.
• Claire Lipscomb is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Education at the University of Roehampton, whose expertise will illuminate the lived-experience of those training to be teachers and working in the profession, and the potential impact upon their mental health.
• Tony Williams is a Consultant Occupational Physician and the Medical Director at Working Fit, a consultancy company he established in 2002. He has wide ranging occupational health experience in public sector organisations and has provide expertise across relevant policy areas. He will address the Fitness to Teach regulations and occupational health challenges of the sector more broadly.
  

We look forward to you joining us online for this fantastic event and opportunity.