A time to celebrate: Results Day!
Today is A Level results day and next week GCSE results are due out. Ahead of results day, Heart Essex spoke to Sarah Norton, one of our Assistant Clinical Directors to find out her thoughts about exam anxiety and the role of the family during this pressured time.
Heart Essex: I know we all feel a bit of a flutter of nerves around exam time, but for some young people it's really crippling, isn't it?
On top of the related anxiety, families this year have experienced teacher strikes as well. Kids may feel that they have missed out or worry if everything has been completed.
Sarah: There has been a huge pressure on families this year. Particularly recently, it's been really difficult for families to find childcare and we do see that at Kids Inspire. The pressure on families to keep everything going and to keep all the plates spinning and support their young people with their studies as well is absolutely huge.
Heart Essex: Have families you have worked with felt particular anxieties and become a bit overwhelmed around this time?
Sarah: We do frequently work with families that are really feeling the pressure of achieving as much as possible, as high as possible. And that’s a really tricky balance for parents to get right with their young person. While we want as parents to be supporting our children, there's also a balance with not over-pressurizing them, and it can be really difficult to find.
Heart Essex: What would you say to any families that may be feeling overwhelmed once the results are in today and next week?
Sarah: What I would say is, particularly at this point in the school year, where exam results days are looming think of it in terms of a celebration. Wherever you're at as a family, whatever results come your child's way, you've all worked so hard in studying and supporting to get to where you are, that actually there's a real celebration to be had with that.
Further to this interview, which we anticipate being broadcast on Heart Essex over the next week, Sarah also has this advice for families and parents:
Be positive about exam results
As I said above, celebrate with your young person. If you are not feeling that positive about the results, avoid sharing your feelings and thoughts with them. Take time out and away to process and then return to celebrate the moment.
What can be done today?
Exams results are out, what more can be done today in response to the results achieved is limited. There is time to make decisions – not everything needs to be decided today. As Helen (our Head of Marketing and Communications) shared, there are always options and there’s #NoWrongPath.
If you are dealing with disappointment…
Please remember that this feeling is going to be felt by many young people, today, next week, and at many times throughout the year. As a parent/carer, you are not alone in trying to find a solution to managing this overwhelming feeling. Do your best to remember that today is ultimately a celebration, do what you can to bring this theme in throughout the day, celebrating that it marks a significant ending for both them and for you.
Together you have made it through an extremely difficult time, resilience has been built throughout (on both sides!) and this is an awesome tool for life that can be drawn again and again in times of need.
How can Kids Inspire help an anxious young person?
We are currently running a project aimed specifically at young people who in the past 12 months may have experienced one or more of these presenting issues:
Emotional distress/anxiety
Low mood
Social isolation
Parental conflict
Challenging behaviours
This Early Intervention Project is for young people 8-19 years and is county-wide.
Please note: Kids Inspire is not a crisis emergency organisation. Outside of 9am-5pm, if you or your child is at immediate risk, please contact the crisis service related to your concern:
NHS111 Mental Health - Dial 111 and select the option for mental health crisis (24 hours a day)
Emotional Wellbeing Mental Health Service Crisis Team – 0300 555 1201
Family Operations Hub – 0345 606 1212 (weekend line)