Scotland's teachers are crippled by stress and depression and are taking up to six times the UK average in sick leave due to psychological ill-health, new figures reveal.

Scotland's teachers are crippled by stress and depression and are taking up to six times the UK average in sick leave due to psychological ill-health, new figures reveal.

A survey of state school staff shows that all but one of the 23 local authorities who supplied sickness statistics reported alarming rates of stress, anxiety and depression higher than the UK average.

Official government statistics state the average number of working days lost due to depression and stress-related illness as 0.6 per worker per year.

But newly released figures obtained through Freedom of Information legislation reveal a mental health crisis among teachers in Scotland with an average of over three times this rate, while some councils reported levels of over six times higher.

A total of 76,653 days were lost due to stress and depression last year. Moray was the hardest hit, with teachers taking an average of 3.81 days each off sick for stress and depression - over six times the national average. Perth and Kinross came a close second, with an average of 3.37 days, while Shetland was third with 3.21 days lost.

Only one of the authorities, Glasgow City, did not significantly exceed the national average, with the average for teachers across Scotland fixed at just over 2.08 days a year.

The statistics follow a survey carried out by the Teacher Support Network in March this year, which found that 71% of staff felt their work was having an adverse effect on their health, with stress, exhaustion, mood swings and disturbed sleep patterns the most common complaints.

A spokesman from Teacher Support Scotland called for counselling to be brought into Scottish schools to help teachers cope with work-related depression and anxiety.

He said: "These figures, though shocking, come as no surprise. Because of the highly stressful nature of the profession, we have consistently argued for the need for greater support and intervention in order to improve the well-being of Scottish teachers.

"For these reasons, despite a lack of any funding, Teacher Support Scotland will be launching its 24/7 support line and online services this month. The experience of teachers in England and Wales who already have access to similar services, is that our coaching and counselling can alleviate the symptoms of common mental health problems."

A spokesman from the Scottish teaching union EIS called for class sizes and teacher workloads to be reduced.

He said: "It is of little surprise that the number of reported cases of stress is so large in light of the workload of teachers and the conditions in which many teachers have to work."

A spokesman from the Scottish Government said it was up to local authorities to look after teacher welfare.

However, he denied there was a lack of funding and said it was working with Teacher Support Scotland.