Experts have called for more attention to be paid to the mental and psychological health of teachers in primary and middle schools, as a new survey shows that many are unhappy in their work.

A survey conducted among more than 500 primary and middle school teachers in Beijing showed that nearly 60 percent of the teachers said that their work brought them more headaches than happiness.

About 70 percent of the teachers said they sometimes could not help getting angry with students and were often in a bad mood.

While the psychological problems of students have attracted considerable attention, teachers' mental health has been neglected, said experts.

"Just like students, we teachers also face fierce competition in schools, and feel a lot of pressure," said a teacher called Sun, who works in a primary school in Beijing's Haidian District.

Wu Wenyan, a member of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the government advisory body, said the psychological problems of teachers affect students.

But some teachers with serious mental problems haven't received real treatment and continue to teach despite their problems, said Wu.

Earlier this month, a 29-year-old teacher with a mental disorder killed an 11-year-old girl in a middle school in Yongzhou City in central China's Hunan Province.

Wu said psychological experts should be deployed in each school to help create a comfortable working environment for teachers.

The Beijing Municipal Education Committee says that a psychological consultation office will be set up in each primary and middle school in Beijing.

At least one psychological expert will provide consultation to teachers and students for no less than 10 hours per week, according to the committee.

Editor: Wing