Well, maybe it's the time of year
Or maybe it's the time of man
I don't know who l am
But you know life is for learning
Joni Mitchel, “Woodstock”

The days are short, temps are cold, energy is low, tempers may be short…several icons to us older folk already have passed as the new year begins. And if you read the news…

Oh, yeah, and that pandemic thing.

Lots of us - teachers and students - are DOWN.

Let’s just say the word. Depression. As a teacher, you’re more vulnerable than most. How does it hit us and what can we do about it when it does?

Links:

• Teachers - The forgotten frontline of the pandemic: https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/news/teachers-the-forgotten-frontline-of-the-pandemic/
• Mental health of teachers, teens takes big COVID-19 hit: https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/mental-health-teachers-teens-takes-big-covid-19-hit
• Japan - for you or someone you knowTokyo English Lifeline - 03-5774-0992 - 9 AM to 11 PM JST every dayCrisis Text Line - "HELLO" to 741741Online Chat - : https://telljp.com/lifeline/ (hours vary)
• USANational Suicide Prevention Lifeline - 1-800-273-TALK (8255)Crisis Text Line - "HELLO" to 741741Online Chat - : https://988lifeline.org/chat/
• Other CountriesInternational Suicide Prevention - : https://findahelpline.com/i/iasp