Book Chapters

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Browsing Book Chapters by Subject "interventions"

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    The Mental Health Situation Among Teachers in Learning Institutions in Kenya: A Concern for Attainment of Quality Education (SDG. NO. 4)
    (Journal of Conflict Management and Sustainable Development, 2023) Waiyaki, Winnie; Cherui, Rodgers Gowon
    The whole area of mental health has gained prominence in recent years. Its impact on emotional, psychological, and social well-being of an individual has become a matter of great concern including in education. Impacts of mental illness to students and pupils have been studied, including how their education and social performance is affected, with several interventions suggested for coping. The education of a nation resonates with the extent to which development occurs and is sustained. However, not much has been studied on the impact of mental health on the instructors in the technical and vocational training institutions. It is assumed that the teachers are well prepared to help learners with mental health problems but, modalities to help instructors cope with their own mental health issues given the prevailing conditions in our society have been overlooked. This paper assesses instructors’ awareness of their mental health and coping strategies in technical and vocational training institutions. The paper relies on available secondary data and reviewed existing literature on mental health issues and interventions among instructors. The paper established that many instructors suffer from mental health disorders without being aware. Several etiological factors were identified that contribute to this among them, the working conditions and family issues. The effects of poor mental health identified in education include stress, burnout, and demotivation, which, if unattended may give rise to mental disorders such as depression. The paper concludes that individuals, institutions, and policy makers need to work together to address the mental health of instructors and therefore recommended that mental health units be set up in vocational training centers, be equipped with qualified mental health workers who can continually assess for mental disorders and apply requisite interventions promptly. Teachers are also encouraged to take it upon themselves to seek attention for their mental health issues to arrest problems before they get out of hand.