Teachers Reported High Student Anxiety and Depression
A survey of Massachusetts educators reveals that most see mental health struggles linked to housing and immigration status.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Secondary Education
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A new survey of 1,200 Massachusetts educators found that 94% identified student anxiety and depression as significant problems in their classrooms. These findings reflect challenges that teachers believe are deeply connected to unstable living situations and broader community stress.
Why it matters
These reports underscore how external factors like poverty and housing instability directly influence the classroom environment and emotional well-being of students across the state. Understanding these obstacles is essential for parents and policymakers working to support student success.
The survey gathered responses from 1,200 teachers, with 82% reporting poverty, 74% reporting homelessness, and 70% reporting immigration status as major student challenges. These results were weighted to accurately reflect the broader Massachusetts teaching workforce.
The players
University of Massachusetts Amherst
A public research institution that hosts the research center responsible for conducting and weighting this statewide educator survey.
Deportation Data Project
A research entity that tracks immigration enforcement records used here to provide data on arrest trends in Milford.
The details
Researchers distributed emails to 18,000 educators during the summer to gather insights into the non-academic hurdles impacting learning. By weighting the data based on variables like race, gender, and school location, the study aimed to provide a comprehensive snapshot of the state's education climate. The team also incorporated federal records from the Deportation Data Project to contextualize student challenges in areas like Milford, where arrests have increased since January 2025.
Timeline
January 2025 marked the beginning of arrests in Milford.
Researchers distributed the survey during the summer of 2026.
Findings were released to the public in the fall of 2026.
The Home Front
This report marks the inaugural release of the Massachusetts Educator Survey, which researchers plan to conduct annually. It establishes a new state-level baseline for tracking how socioeconomic trends like housing instability influence the classroom environment.
Parents should talk to school counselors or teachers to understand available mental health resources if they notice changes in their child's school engagement. Identifying these supports early is vital for families dealing with housing or immigration-related stressors.
The takeaway
Educators are sounding the alarm on the emotional toll that poverty and housing instability take on their students. Families can reach out to school administrators to request information on local student support services and mental health programming available in their district.
What happens next
Researchers intend to conduct the Massachusetts Educator Survey annually, with the next iteration expected to provide comparative data for future school years.
Further reading
For more information on the challenges facing students, visit the Secondary Education section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WBUR 90.9 mHz.
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