As the academic year culminates, a familiar pressure cooker environment builds for students across the UK: exam season. The culmination of months, and often years, of hard work, these high-stakes assessments can understandably trigger significant stress and anxiety in young people. Recognising the potential impact on their mental health and overall well-being, dedicated NHS teams are proactively stepping up their efforts to equip pupils with the tools and strategies needed to navigate this challenging period successfully.
The Mounting Pressure: Understanding Exam Stress
Exam stress is a natural response to the demands and pressures associated with academic assessments. However, when unmanaged, this stress can negatively impact a student’s mental and physical health, along with their academic performance. Common symptoms of exam stress include:
- Increased anxiety and worry: Persistent feelings of unease, nervousness, or fear about upcoming exams and their outcomes.
- Difficulty concentrating: Trouble focusing on studying or retaining information.
- Sleep disturbances: Insomnia or disrupted sleep patterns due to racing thoughts and anxiety.
- Changes in appetite: Either a loss of appetite or comfort eating.
- Irritability and mood swings: Feeling more easily agitated or experiencing emotional highs and lows.
- Physical symptoms: Headaches, stomach aches, muscle tension, and fatigue.
- Social withdrawal: Avoiding friends and social activities.
- Negative self-talk: Doubting their abilities and focusing on potential failure.
The pressure to perform well, combined with the fear of disappointing themselves, their families, and their teachers, can create an ideal environment for increased stress levels. For some students, existing mental health conditions such as anxiety or depression can worsen during this period.
The Proactive Approach: NHS Support for Pupils
Recognising the significant impact of exam stress, NHS teams, including school nurses, mental health support teams (MHSTs), and child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS), are implementing a range of initiatives to support pupils in the lead-up to and during exam season. This proactive approach aims to equip students with coping mechanisms, build resilience, and ensure they know where to turn for help if needed.
Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) in Schools
A key component of this support network is the increasing presence and activity of Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) within schools. These teams, a crucial part of the government’s commitment to improving young people’s mental health, work directly in schools and colleges to provide early intervention and support. Their efforts during exam season often include:
- Workshops and assemblies: Delivering sessions on stress management techniques, relaxation exercises, and coping strategies tailored to the exam period.
- Small group sessions: Providing more focused support and guidance to students who may be experiencing higher levels of anxiety.
- Individual support: Offering one-on-one sessions for students who require more personalised support and strategies.
- Resources and information: Distributing leaflets, online resources, and signposting further to support services within the NHS and local community.
- Liaison with school staff: Training teachers and other school staff to recognise the signs of exam stress and how to provide initial support to students.
- Parental engagement: Providing parents with information and advice on how to best support their children during exam season.
School Nurses: A Vital Point of Contact
School nurses also play a crucial role in supporting pupils’ well-being during exam season. They are often a familiar and trusted face within the school environment and can provide:
- Informal support and advice: Being available to talk to students about their worries and anxieties.
- Health and well-being checks: Identifying students who may be struggling with stress and offering appropriate support or referrals.
- Links to wider NHS services: Connecting students with MHSTs, CAMHS, or their GP if more specialist support is required.
- Health promotion activities: Reinforcing healthy habits, such as adequate sleep, balanced nutrition, and regular exercise, can help build resilience to stress.
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS): Providing Specialist Support
For students experiencing more severe or complex mental health difficulties related to exam stress, CAMHS teams provide specialist assessment and treatment. They work with young people and their families to develop tailored support plans, which may include:
- Therapy: Offering individual or group therapy sessions to address underlying anxiety or mental health conditions.
- Medication: In some cases, medication may be prescribed to help manage severe anxiety or depression.
- Crisis support: Providing access to urgent mental health support for students experiencing a crisis.
Empowering Students with Coping Strategies
A key focus of the NHS support initiatives is to empower students with practical coping strategies they can use to manage exam stress effectively. These strategies often include:
- Effective study techniques: Encouraging students to plan their revision, break down large tasks into smaller, manageable chunks, and take regular breaks.
- Time management skills: Helping students to create realistic study schedules and prioritise tasks to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
- Relaxation techniques: Teaching students mindfulness exercises, deep breathing techniques, and progressive muscle relaxation to help calm their minds and bodies.
- Physical activity: Promoting the benefits of regular exercise in reducing stress and improving mood.
- Healthy lifestyle habits: Emphasising the importance of getting enough sleep, eating a balanced diet, and staying hydrated.
- Positive self-talk: Encouraging students to challenge negative thoughts and focus on their strengths and achievements.
- Seeking support: Reminding students that it is okay to ask for help from teachers, family, friends, or the NHS support teams.
The Role of Parents and Carers
The support provided by NHS teams is complemented by the crucial role of parents and carers. The NHS also provides guidance for parents on how they can support their children during exam season, including:
- Creating a supportive and understanding environment at home.
- Encouraging open communication and listening to their child’s concerns.
- Helping them to establish a balanced routine that includes study, rest, and relaxation.
- Discouraging comparisons with other students.
- Reminding them that exam results do not solely determine their worth.
- Knowing where to seek professional help if they have concerns about their child’s mental health.
Total Assist: Supporting the Well-being of Young People
Total Assist recognises the importance of supporting the mental health and well-being of young people, particularly during stressful periods like exam season. We are committed to working with healthcare providers to ensure that schools and communities have access to the skilled professionals needed to provide timely and effective support. This includes:
- Placing qualified mental health professionals in MHSTs and CAMHS teams.
- Providing flexible staffing solutions to meet the increased demand for mental health services during peak periods.
- Supporting the recruitment of school nurses who play a vital role in early intervention and support.
Conclusion: A Collaborative Effort to Support Student Well-being
The proactive efforts of NHS teams to support pupils in managing exam stress highlight a growing recognition of the importance of mental health alongside academic achievement. By providing early intervention, practical strategies, and access to specialist support when needed, the NHS aims to empower young people to navigate the challenges of exam season with greater resilience and well-being. This collaborative effort, involving schools, NHS professionals, parents, and support organisations like Total Assist, is crucial in ensuring that students are not only equipped to succeed academically but also to thrive emotionally and mentally during this demanding time. By fostering a supportive environment and providing the right tools and resources, we can help students approach exams with confidence and protect their mental health along the way.
