Counsellors said last night they are on standby for a surge in calls from worried teenagers this week as thousands of students across the nation brace themselves for exam results.
The Samaritans said study stress was the major reason behind calls to its helpline and last year calls to the charity rose by 6% on A-level results day and 11% on GCSE results day a week later.
Samaritans’ schools project co-ordinator Tonja Schmidt said, “Waiting for exam results is a time fraught with pressure.
Panic, anxiety, fear about the future, guilt and despair are just some of the feelings students might be going through.
“Young people shouldn’t be made to feel their whole life hangs in the balance based on their exam performance.
“Parents, teachers and friends need to help them take a step back and remember life doesn’t stop.
“There are lots of options available to help them make a positive start to the next phase of their life, whatever that piece of paper says.”
Child psychologist Ruth Coppard, said, “People like Richard Branson and Alan Sugar didn’t get great exam results
“It’s not possible to tell people not to worry though, as they are bound to.
“But I would say, don’t panic and remember these results are only a gateway to the next stage.
The world is full of people who have done re-sits and those who didn’t. If one door doesn’t open there are others.”
She advised keeping calm by taking exercise, talking to friends or watching a favourite film.
Families should also be prepared for short tempers from those awaiting results.
The University Central Admissions Service runs the Clearing service to match students to alternative courses if they have not received the results needed for their first choice.
Ucas, universities and colleges around Wales are all running helplines for students.
A Ucas spokesman said, “For those students that don’t get the grades that they need all is not lost.”
First published on IC Wales|