The National Union of Teachers (NUT) has joined forces with UNISON, UNITE and GMB to tackle mental health issues in its profession.

According to the NUT, mental ill health is the second largest cause of sick absence from work in the UK. It can affect between 15 and 25 per cent of the population at any one time.

Stress depression and anxiety account for 50 per cent of all mental illness problems and the organisations have banded together to offer advice and guidelines on how to deal with these issues.

A document is being circulated to head teachers across the country and aims to provide information on creating a healthy working environment in schools.

The NUT is the trade union for the teaching profession in the UK. It currently has over 273,000 members and offers legal and professional advice as well as providing support for its membership.