Teachers’ Help-Seeking Perceptions and Workplace Psychological Safety

Sheila M. Linseman, The University of Western Ontario

Abstract

This objective of this study was to investigate teacher mental health, attitudes toward psychological help-seeking, and perceptions of psychological safety within schools. Findings from this study of 600 Canadian educational professionals revealed a higher frequency and severity of distress than in the general population, warranting intervention. Attitudes toward psychological help-seeking were generally positive, though less favorable than comparable published studies. Overall, participants rated their workplaces as “somewhat” psychologically safe. However, there were low ratings of work-life balance and respectful treatment of mental illness by leadership. Implications and recommendations of these findings were discussed.