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The number of public school teachers on leave due to mental disorders remains high at 7,078, accounting for 0.77 percent of all teachers in fiscal 2024, the education ministry announced on Dec. 22.

The ministry released the survey results that covered 67 boards of education in all 47 prefectures and 20 ordinance-designated cities.

Although the number taking leave due to mental illness is 32 fewer than the previous year, which marked the highest figure in three consecutive years, it remains high.

The figure shows the need for work-style reforms and enhance support to keep teachers in their classrooms, amid the serious shortage of educational personnel.

In fiscal 2024, the proportion of mental disorders among those on sick leave was 76.5 percent.

In addition, 46.4 percent of those who took leave due to mental illness had been at their current school for less than two years. Difficulty in adjusting to the school environment is also considered a factor in causing mental illness among teachers.

“Under the ‘Team School’ concept, it is important for those around them to firmly support teachers who are new to the school,” an education ministry official said.

By age group, the largest proportion of teachers with mental struggles was in their 30s at 29.9 percent, followed by those 50 and older at 26.7 percent, those in their 40s at 24.9 percent and those in their 20s at 18.5 percent.

In addition, the number of newly appointed teachers who quit within a year of being hired hit a record high of 897, an increase of 106 from the previous year. Of these, 35.8 percent cited mental illness as the reason.

The survey asked boards of education about the reasons for leaves of absence due to mental struggles.

The most common reasons cited were matters related to instructing children at 26.5 percent, followed by relationships with other teachers in the workplace at 23.2 percent and being overwhelmed with clerical tasks at 12.7 percent.

“Matters related to instruction” include issues such as bullying, school absenteeism and responding to children with diverse backgrounds.

Relationships with parents and local residents accounted for 6.1 percent, and long working hours for 0.5 percent.

While these two factors were not high as direct reasons, an education ministry official said, “Responding to parents cannot be overlooked in terms of stress. It is also possible that instruction and clerical work lead to long working hours.”

The education ministry revised the three categories of who should carry out each duty so that teachers can focus on their essential tasks in September. Through the revision, the ministry aims to improve teachers’ work environment to reduce the number of those taking sick leave.

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