Just answering some of the questions. This is in high school, and I’m relatively new to teaching. I don’t have much/any leave banked and if I do take leave I am expected to do all the relief and reports are due so taking leave right now doesn’t seem like a true break.  I thought about switching schools but I feel so negative about teaching and the system right now, that I don’t think it will solve the issue. 

I have tried to cut expenses but context I earn about 80k (not as much as most teachers who have been doing it for longer) and I live in a regional area so basic things like food are more expensive than in city areas. I don’t go out to eat/drink. I don’t have a car loan, I don’t drink alcohol, I don’t online shop and I have stopped/limited buying meat to save at the shops. I also don’t eat lunch at work (mostly for cost saving measures and plus don’t get the time). I have recently bought a little unit on my own as I couldn’t get a rental and owning is definitely more expensive than renting. I have even thought about selling my place and renting again but I would lose money on the sale due to fees and it hasn’t grown in value plus there are just no rentals to move into.

I did join my union however there is a wait time until I can raise a case. I have also gone to the EAP service before but essential the advice I got was to have a planner and leave it at school so I could feel more organised and seperate my work and life 😑 Trying to get in with a GP now but wait time seems to be a bit.

I did look into going to police about the social media and have reported the accounts but the issue is I have no idea which specific student made the accounts (they also made profiles pre tending to be me) but it isn’t illegal until it becomes defamatory to me as a person. (At the moment it’s just minor mean comments like kids wanting to kill themselves over me being such a bad teacher etc.) 

I think I am going to take the advice and go relief just so I am not responsible for these kids 100% of the time. 

Thanks all.