Teaching with care: a practical guide for teachers to support mental health and well-being in schools

Overview

Teachers are often the frontline adults closest to learners, and their everyday interactions can profoundly shape how children and young people feel, learn and thrive. Teaching with Care is a practical guide that equips teachers with clear, evidence-based strategies to support learners’ mental health and psychosocial well-being in the classroom. It provides guidance on how to create safe and inclusive learning environments, build positive relationships, promote social and emotional skills, recognize early signs of distress and link learners to appropriate support.

Developed jointly by UNESCO, UNICEF and WHO, this guide translates global evidence into practical actions that teachers can apply in diverse contexts. It clarifies the essential but bounded role of teachers, who are not expected to diagnose mental health conditions or provide specialized care, and provides practical approaches for supporting their own well-being and that of their colleagues. The guide also emphasizes working with families, communities and wider support systems to strengthen learner well-being.