“School in distress”: action research on risky work situations with regards to mental health in school settings

Abstract

This paper relies on an action research conducted in a perspective of health and security at work in two high schools (secondary level) in Quebec. The objective was to identify work situations with risks for the mental health of the staff, by the analysis of the suffering at work and the individual and collective defensive strategies tied to the work organization. More specifically, the study aimed at accompanying the participants (teachers, education professionals, support staff and assistant principals) in the development of an action plan to prevent problems of mental health at work.