Mental health support available to help relieve stress of exam results day

The NHS in Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire has a wide range of resources available to help any students feeling overwhelmed at the prospect of receiving important exam results during August.

A-level students in the region will find out how they fared in this summer’s exam season on Thursday 17 August, while GCSE students will open the envelope containing their results on Thursday 24 August.

With many young people’s university and college hopes dependant on exam results, this time of year can prove stressful which, in some extreme cases, can snowball into periods of anxiety, isolation and depression.

To help avoid such scenarios, students are being encouraged to make use of the mental health resources available locally, details of which are listed on the website of Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board.

Gill May, Chief Nurse, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board, said: “Exam season as a whole can be particularly hard on young people, with everything from revision and sitting the exams, to getting the results and then preparing for either university or college happening in the space of just a few short weeks.

“It’s no surprise that many students begin to feel run-down, exhausted and just plain worried by the whole situation.

“These sorts of emotions are normal and usually pass in time, but some may want a little help to stop these negative feelings from becoming something unmanageable, and that’s where the NHS can help.

“The help available in our region comes in a variety of shapes and sizes, with some options based solely online or over the phone, and others happening face-to-face.

“These services are there to be used, and many will only need to ask for help once, but doing so is often all it takes to relieve the stress that could lead to something worse.”

Among the help on offer in the region is Kooth, a digital platform in which young people up to the age of 25 can speak with a trained counsellor in a private online conversation.

Dr Lynne Green, Chief Clinical Officer, Kooth, said: “Reaching out and asking for help and support with mental health and wellbeing concerns is not always easy, and this is especially true for young people awaiting exam results.

“With services available around the clock and at a range of levels, Kooth can offer young people access to timely and effective mental health care whenever and however they need it.”

To find out more about local mental health services, including details of how to access help, visit www.bsw.icb.nhs.uk/your-health.