The need for emotional and psychological support in the education sector, where teachers often carry huge workloads and face growing demands, is steadily increasing. To help support educators, the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) is launching a new, free online support group.
It is open to educators, learner support agents, and anyone working in the education sector across South Africa who is navigating anxiety, burnout, and emotional stress in the workplace. It is open to all educators regardless of grade level, subject, or years of experience, and aims to provide peer-led support and a safe sense of community. “Educators are dealing with increased work stress, massive pressure, and unrealistic deadlines that leave them stressed, anxious, and burnt out – and so many are silently struggling. We’re all dealing with trauma from experiences at work or from life itself, and I think this is something we need to talk about and support each other with, in a space that feels safe,” said a support group leader. “When we take care of our educators’ mental health, we take care of the entire school community. Teachers who feel supported and valued are better able to inspire, guide, and uplift learners. Educators’ wellbeing is not a luxury; it is essential to building stronger, healthier schools,” says Roshni Parbhoo-Seetha, SADAG’s Project Manager in Education.
According to a study by Stellenbosch University, 50% of teachers surveyed said they were considering leaving the profession within the next 10 years, citing emotional exhaustion, administrative overload, and lack of support as the main reasons. The support group will launch on Wednesday, 1 October 2025, at 7pm. To join, contact Nirvana at 081 591 0084 for details.
