On the afternoon of April 24th, a high school teacher in Yao’an County, Yunnan Province, jumped from the 4th floor of the teaching building on campus. He is currently in stable condition. A circulated suicide note suggests that he was bullied by colleagues and suffered a mental breakdown. Students described him as gentle and introverted.
On April 27th, Ms. Dong Fang (pseudonym), a graduate from Yunnan Yao’an County High School, told Vision News that at around 5:30 p.m. on April 24th, her former high school political teacher, Zhang, fell from the teaching building of Yao’an County High School. Before the fall, Zhang left a letter titled “Zhang’s Statement to Yao’an County High School Colleagues,” detailing recent workplace bullying experiences and expressing a long-term state of negative mental health, feeling emotionally drained, anxious, and mentally tense.
Zhang, the teacher who jumped, was a critically needed talent recruited publicly in Yao’an County in 2021. In September 2025, he was awarded the third prize for teaching excellence in the 2024-2025 academic year.
According to online sources, around 5:30 p.m. on the 24th, Zhang jumped from the 4th floor of the school building for suicide. An ambulance arrived at the scene shortly after and took him to the hospital. Several netizens shared the suicide note titled “Zhang’s Statement to Yao’an County High School Colleagues.”
In the “letter,” Zhang complained about compressing personal rest time, strictly aligning with the teaching outline, and completing tasks with quality and quantity on schedule without exceeding the specified scope. A teacher named Yang from the school deleted Zhang’s WeChat, expelled him from the teaching group, and initiated a targeted accountability and confrontational communication style under the pretext of “part of the question types not fully aligned with the limited scope of question setting for this stage.” Despite never initiating arguments, Zhang was unreasonably challenged, publicly criticized, isolated in opinion, and deliberately held accountable by Yang, leading him to endure high-pressure anxiety and extreme psychological distress for a prolonged period. The letter also listed several school leaders who should take post-responsibility.
In another report by Lizhi News, a student recalled Zhang as gentle and introverted.
On the afternoon of the 27th, staff from the Education and Sports Bureau of Yao’an County responded to the media, stating that the teacher involved is currently in stable condition, and relevant personnel from the bureau have started an investigation. Regarding the teacher’s alleged pre-suicide note and its contents as described by the student, the staff mentioned that the bureau is investigating and will release a report later.
This incident quickly became a hot topic on Weibo.
Netizens expressed that in the teaching profession, outsiders only see stability and respect, but fail to recognize the severity of internal competition, conflicts, and workplace pressures. This teacher faced targeting, public denunciation, and isolation for diligently setting questions. The combination of the stress of teaching high school seniors and workplace bullying led to long-term anxiety and ultimately a breakdown. It is hoped that society can understand teachers more and not solely focus on results, but also protect their mental health and dignity.
“It feels like every work environment is like this, but the teaching profession is slightly unique — even a tiny issue can escalate into a major moral dilemma.”
“As a student from a school near Yao’an County High School, I can only say that the pressure at Yao’an County High School is too great. Only last year, two students jumped, and this year a teacher did as well. With a school that charges two to three thousand for data fees, what is there to praise?”
Public information shows that Yao’an County First High School is a regular high school. In November 2012, Da Cheng High School and Yao’an Second High School merged into one and held a celebratory ceremony on November 16th, moving to a new location and renaming itself as “Yao’an County First High School.”