Sharp rise in the number of Merseyside teenagers being counselled for exam stress
It's as thousands of youngsters across Merseyside are getting ready to pick up their A-Level exam results on Thursday
As thousands of youngsters across Merseyside are getting ready to pick up their A-Level results tomorrow morning, we can reveal there's been a sharp rise in the number of teenagers who are getting counselling for exam stress.
Childline has carried out more than a thousand sessions with 16-18 year olds who are anxious about whether they'll get the grades to go to University.
Terry Winnett and Ged King are from Liverpool Youth Charity Y-Pas - they've been inundated with teenagers who are worried about picking up their results:
Childline delivered 1,133 counselling sessions to young people concerned about exam results in 2016/17 – a rise of 21% over the last two years.
Of these, more than a quarter (28%) took place in August 2016 when GCSE and AS/A-Level results are released.
Many young people told counsellors they were disappointed with themselves and worried their grades might affect them getting into the university or college of their choice, while others were concerned about their parent’s reaction to their results.
Anxiety and low mood were also mentioned when discussing exam results, with some saying they were struggling to cope with the pressure to do well and achieve top grades.
Peter Wanless NSPCC chief executive said: “Waiting for exam results can be an anxious time for young people and can leave some struggling to cope. Pressure to achieve good grades and worries about securing further education places and jobs can be too much for some teenagers to deal with on their own.
“We’d encourage young people not to be disheartened if they don’t get the results they hoped for. It’s important they remember that they have options and that talking to a friend or trusted adult can really help them see this clearly. Childline is also here 24/7 to listen to any young person worried about their results and needing confidential support and advice.”
Childline has the following advice for young people:
• Don’t panic if you don't get the results you were hoping for.
• You may have to make some tough decisions but remember you always have options and you can get help.
• Everyone is different so try not to compare your results to your friends or classmates.
• If you're disappointed with your results it can help to talk to a teacher or someone you trust about how you’re feeling.
Advice from the NSPCC for parents and carers include:
• Try not to place pressure on your children to gain certain grades
• Your child may find it hard to talk to you about their results so be patient and supportive until they feel ready to open up about how they feel.
• Encourage your child to take their time to think about what they want to do next. There’s no need to rush into a decision straightaway.
• Help them think about their choices by writing down a list of pros and cons for each of their options.