Young people overwhelmed by pressure and stress of exams

• Thousands receive counselling from Childline about exam stress.

• Girls five times more likely to seek help than boys.

• NSPCC given £2m funding boost for Childline from People’s Postcode Lottery.

CHILDLINE has revealed that thousands of young people have turned to them for support as they struggle to cope with the pressure and stress of exams.

As children and young people all over the UK prepare for their tests, new figures from Childline show counsellors have delivered 2,795 counselling sessions on exam stress in 2018/19.

A third of these contacts to the NSPCC-supported service took place in April and May 2018.

Eighty-seven Childline counselling sessions were carried out with children and young people from Wales over exam stress, with the true figure likely to be higher because no country of origin was given by children during 377 counselling sessions.

Young people said they were stressed about their exams worried about disappointing their parents; trying their best and still failing; having excessive workloads and feeling unmotivated to revise.

Other young people told Childline counsellors the prospect of taking exams was having an adverse effect on their mental health, with some coping by self-harming and others saying they were feeling suicidal.

Young people aged 15 or 16 were the most likely to receive exam stress counselling sessions, while working toward their GCSEs.

Childline is urging all young people to speak out if they are stressed about their exams, especially boys as figures reveal they are five times less likely than girls to talk to counsellors about the pressure they are under.

Anna Williamson, Childline counsellor and writer of teen book, How Not to Lose It said: “It is vital that family, friends and teachers are there to support children and teenagers during this stressful time.

“My advice to parents would be to never say ‘it wasn’t like this in my day’- children won’t care and it isn’t about you. Also never compare siblings. What you can do is ask if they need anything, say you are proud of them and offer an end-of-exams celebration to help them visualise it being over.”

The NSPCC has recently received over £2million thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery, which will help Childline be there for more children who need help with exam stress or other issues.

Dame Esther Rantzen, founder and president of Childline said: “I hated exams, and I absolutely understand why they stress so many young people out. They can be important, but they shouldn’t be overwhelming.

“That’s why it’s vital that Childline is there to support any young people who feel the pressure is unbearable.

“This funding thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery will help us answer children who need us, so that we can be there for them when they have no-one else to turn to.”

Adults concerned about a child can contact the NSPCC helpline seven days a week on 0808 800 5000, or email help@nspcc.org.uk. Children can call Childline on 0800 11 11 or www.childline.org.uk any time of the day or night.