With mock exams for GCSE and post-16 students prevailing, it’s probably starting to hit home that exams are only a matter of months away. Similar to previous years, the stress levels are rising at this time of year for teenagers all over the UK.

 

Working hard at school is important of course, but a recent study has revealed that stress from school is the biggest cause of depression, self-harm and attempted suicide amongst teenagers. 32% of children in the UK have attempted to end their own life by the age of 16 and 29% have purposely harmed themselves.

 

Over 12% of participants in a survey said that, when under the age of 16, they found themselves feeling like a failure almost every day. Almost a quarter of participants with mental health problems felt that this affected their school life or work every day, and 61% regularly skipped lessons due to feeling depressed.

 

Pressure is constantly put upon our generation to pass exams, decide a future, get a job and achieve in life, but one major factor is repeatedly forgotten; happiness and health should come first. Regular breaks and sleep are essential in order for teenagers to succeed.  It can’t be all work and no play.

 

So how do we keep a healthy balance of work and relaxing to avoid stress and risk of mental health problems? Firstly, parents need to be a support mechanism for teenagers - despite how grown up they may seem, they still need you Mum and Dad! Parents should watch for stressed behaviour in their children, such as expressing feeling of hopelessness or generally seeming ‘down’ or out of character. Have a chat and ask if there’s any support or help they may need. A quick conversation can pay off and go a long way!

 

Next up, stay organised! Planners for homework and revision timetables are simple ways to stay on top of your work and ensure you manage your time correctly. Being in the middle of the technology age, there are hundreds of apps and websites to aid your time management.

 

Despite how tempting catching up on TOWIE whilst revising is, homework or studying should be done in a quiet place with no distractions, not even a mobile phone. This could mean going to a local library, a quiet area at school or your bedroom to feel a bit more at home.

 

Good grades require a lot of work, obviously, but don’t forget to have ‘chill’ time in between exams, revision and homework and don’t get stressed!

 

 If you or your child feels that stress is becoming an issue, http://www.youngminds.org.uk/ is a website dedicated to helping teenagers’ health and well-being.

 

Molly-May Watson

Cheam High Schools