Hi friend!
I hope you had a lovely Easter Break!
Welcome to the 38th edition of the Teach Outside the Robot newsletter.
Let's hop to it. π
1. Quote to Think About
If you don't heal what you hurt you, you bleed on people who never cut you.
- Isabella De Bruno
This is why I will preach self-care until I'm old and grey. It's not about just lying in a bath and thinking about 'rainbows and sunshine.'
It's about truly meeting your needs. And sometimes, to do that, you have to look at the things in the past that hurt you the most.
It's not easy, and you will need help. But if you are willing to go on that journey, it will transform your life in beautiful ways and make you the best version of yourself.
It's really tough out there. If you are emotionally struggling, my friend, I implore you to seek out someone, whether they are a therapist or a counsellor, to help you.
I promise you the journey will be worth it.
2. Insight Worth Considering
According to The Guardian, 75% of teachers now prioritise mental health over teaching weekly.β
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The numbers are shocking, but not surprising.
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Let's look at the reality we're facing:
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β’ 78% say student mental health has worsened
β’ 24% of students need urgent mental health support
β’ 76% report that most students needing help don't get it
β’ 74% see learning suffering from inadequate support
β’ 90% of teachers are more involved in mental health support than before
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The NHS data is even more alarming:
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β’ 55% more under-18s need mental health services since 2020
β’ Support waiting times stretch from 4 to 147 days
β’ 949,200 children were referred last year
β’ 270,300 are still waiting
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We're asking teachers to be educators, counsellors, and mental health professionals simultaneously.
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This isn't sustainable.
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Donβt even get me started on AIβ¦
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βOur education system needs fundamental reform.
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We're watching our teachers struggle while trying to hold everything together.
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We see our students suffer while waiting for help that may never come.
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We need to change now.
If you are still in education, please, please, please look after yourself. I know you are doing the very best that you can.
It's not you. The issue is systemic and deeply entrenched. But many people continue to fight the good fight on your behalf.
Stay strong.
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3. Resource to Explore
On a brighter note, I know a guy who is absolutely brilliant when it comes to teachers (and other professionals) looking after their mental health, and that's my good friend, Chris Misslebrook.
Chris is a former teacher who suffered a personal tragedy that made him reevaluate his life and start a business that helped other educators overcome burnout and anxiety.
I've added his Instagram account here, which has links to his various resources.
He's a sound guy and well worth looking into!
βhttps://www.instagram.com/mindfirsteducation/β
4. The Small Thing That Helped Me This Fortnight
Tom Misch - It's hard to describe an artist like Tom Misch. He blends hip-hop, soul, funk and easy listening into one convenient package.
Whenever I'm having a tough day and I want to chillax, I sit in my favourite chair, throw on some Tom Misch, and hum all my worries away.
Here's his instrumental album. Give him a whizz and let me know what you think π
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5. A Question to Sit With
Sometimes, the most caring thing we can do for ourselves and others is to call out situations that aren't working or making life difficult. So my question to you is this:
"Is there a difficult conversation that you have been avoiding that you know you need to have that could potentially make your life better?"
What I've found is 90% of the time, the conversations went better than I expected. The faster you have them, the faster you can move on.
Episode 4 of the Maverick School Podcast is out now, and I have a small request:
I need you to be 'weirder.'
Nobody wants to be seen as a weirdo.
But in the digital age, it might be the greatest asset you got.
AI has supercharged conformity.
Cover letters, CVs and social media posts are now a dime a dozen thanks to ChatGPT and Claude.
HR and hiring companies now use algorithms to fish out candidates with machine-like precision.
If you add increasing layoffs, economic uncertainty, and world leaders acting like DuShane and Sully from Top Boy, no wonder things feel bleak.
But in this episode, I argue that leaning into your personality quirks might be the key to securing your future.
In this episode, you will learn:
- The clever framework that Ryan Reynolds used to conquer Hollywood, and why being 'average' is now a superpower
- Why a little high school in Downtown Brooklyn, New York, produced some of the greatest rappers of all time, and a key lesson you can learn to turbocharge your career
- Why asking for work online may paradoxically stop you getting it β and what you can do instead
Click the link to your favourite podcasting platform below πππΎ
Apple Podcasts
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βhttps://lnkd.in/eaUWGBSG
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Spotify
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βhttps://lnkd.in/evSvjeuW
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Podbean
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βhttps://lnkd.in/ek2c3Qfy
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The next newsletter will come out on Thursday, 30th April 2026.
Until next time.
Karl
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