Teachers in Suffolk took almost 10,000 days off sick last year through stress, depression or anxiety,
The figures, released by Suffolk County Council following a Freedom of Information request, amount to the equivalent of about 50 academic years of teaching time.
Figures from 2010 show that 190 teachers took a total of 9,774 days off, with a high majority suffering from psychiatric stress or depression and anxiety.
Union bosses have attributed the high levels of stress-related absences to a huge increase in workload, the threat of inspections and the pressure of league tables and exams.
In 2008, there were 215 incidents of teacher absence across primary, middle, secondary and special schools – with a total of 6,996 days taken off from work due to stress.
During 2009, the figure rose to 218 cases spanning more than 10,500 days.
The council said it offered support through Wellbeing Programmes, professional associations and HR departments.
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