Nearly 3000 years of school and nursery staff time lost to mental ill health  

By Lucy Ashton

Scottish Liberal Democrat education spokesperson Willie Rennie MSP , pictured right, has today warned of the “devastating toll” of mental health absences among Scottish education staff, as he revealed that a staggering 1,061,210 teacher, support staff and nursery staff days have been lost for mental health reasons since April 2018.    

Figures from 27 out of Scotland’s 32 local authorities, uncovered by Scottish Liberal Democrats under freedom of information legislation, reveal:    

• 1,061,210 school and nursery staff days were lost for mental health reasons between 2018/19 and 2022/23. This equates to more than 2,907 years.  
• The number of staff days lost has risen from 172,690 days in 2018/19 to 271,427 days in 2022/23.    
• Glasgow had the highest number of staff days lost in 2022/23 with 37,474 days lost, followed by Inverclyde on 28,091 days and North Lanarkshire on 19,343 days.  
• In 2023/24 so far (up to October 2023), 10,219 support staff days have been lost to mental health absences, while 4,558 teacher days have been lost so far.  

Mr Rennie said: “These alarming figures expose the devastating toll of mental health absences across our schools and nurseries.    

“From early years to exam years, the SNP have persisted in mismanaging Scotland’s education system. By offering next to no support for staff, they have caused learning environments to turn into pressure-cookers, all while the attainment gap remains as wide as ever.

“It’s time to stop asking our education staff to perform miracles and finally give them the support and resources they need to deliver the very best for children.

“That’s why Scottish Liberal Democrats would invest in education. As well as giving teachers and staff the resources and support that they need, we would enhance pupil equity funding and ensure teachers are given proper stable contracts.”