Supporting Male Teachers during Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month
As we mark Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month for November, it’s vital that we shine a spotlight on the mental health and wellbeing of male teachers. The teaching profession is demanding, and every educator gives much of themselves to their pupils – but often the very people caring for others forget to care for themselves.
According to The landscape of teacher wellbeing analysis, 62 % of education professionals describe themselves as stressed, and 53 % say they don’t receive enough guidance about mental wellbeing at work.
For male teachers in particular, the pressures can be compounded by cultural expectations of having everything under control, being the problem-solver, or not showing vulnerability.
Why male teachers need our support
Teaching demands emotional labour, long hours and often high stress. In this environment:
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Male teachers may feel a need to hide signs of struggle.
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Support networks or wellbeing structures might not always feel tailored to their experience.
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The stigma around reaching out remains a barrier.
What can be done
Here are some practical ways schools and individuals can support male teachers during this month:
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Create safe spaces for conversation: Encourage male staff to talk about how they’re really doing, without judgment.
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Promote the teacher-wellbeing toolkit from Breathe Education: It provides training, guidance and resources for stress, burnout and managing mental health.
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Model help-seeking behaviour: Leaders and senior staff can lead by example — showing vulnerability doesn’t equal weakness.
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Encourage small changes: Even simple habits — setting work boundaries, prioritising downtime, making peer check-ins — can make a difference.
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Tailor support to men’s experiences: Recognise the unique pressures male teachers may face (e.g., feeling the need to uphold a strong front) and ensure resources are inclusive and relevant.
Next Steps
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Choose any of the above tips this week to implement (for yourself or as part of a team).
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For Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month: highlight the resource in your staff newsletter or meeting, emphasising male teacher wellbeing.
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Encourage a buddy system: pair up male teachers or staff members to check in weekly using one of the resources on Breathe (e.g., Teacher wellbeing – Spotting the signs of Stress).
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Make it visible: display a list of support links in your staff room or intranet so that male teachers see that support is there.
And finally
Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month reminds us that mental health matters for everyone — and especially for those in caring professions like teaching. With the right support, resources, culture and openness, teachers can feel empowered to look after their own wellbeing as fiercely as they look after their pupils.
As we reflect for the month of November, let’s commit to ensuring that male teachers are seen, heard and supported — because their wellbeing matters too.
Check out: www.mentalhealth-uk.org/mens-mental-health
