Childline counselling sessions mentioning exam stress more than double
The NSPCC has released some tips for students and parents ahead of A-Level results day today and GCSE results day on Thursday
The NSPCC say counselling sessions offered to young people where exam-related stresses were mentioned have more than doubled compared to last year.
Between April and June this year, 1,812 sessions were given to young people, who shared concerns relating to exams and exams being cancelled. That's compared to 861 during the same time period in 2020.
The children's charity has released the data ahead of A-Level results day today (Tuesday 10 August) and GCSE results day on Thursday.
Helen Westerman, Head of Local Campaigns at the NSPCC, told Greatest Hits Radio: "I think teenagers can sometimes feel that their whole future is going to be determined by the results they get, we want to reassure them that that's not the case.
Encourage your child to take time and think about what they want to do next
"It's been more challenging for children and young people to navigate the last 18 months. Just under half of the young people who spoke to Childline about exams and exams being cancelled, also spoke about the impact on their mental and emotional health."
Ms Westerman also had some top tips for both parents and students on how to best handle the pressures of the day:
"If they don't get the results they want there's lots of other options. They can speak to a councillor or careers advisor about the options, take a gap year, go to another university of college, take a different course.
"Encourage your child to take time and think about what they want to do next. There's a tendency to rush into 'actually if we've not got the grades we need to do something else'. And help them think about their choices by perhaps writing down a list of pros and cons for each of the options."