Exam stress affects a large proportion of teenagers every year. About two million young people in the UK will be taking exams this summer.
Samaritans has teamed up with YouTube vlogger and teacher Primrose Kitten, aka Jen, to help teenagers deal with the exam challenge. Primrose Kitten has more than 26,000 subscribers on YouTube for her posts about exam and revision techniques, especially for maths and science.
Samaritans’ DEAL (Developing Emotional Awareness and Listening), delivered to teenagers as part of Personal Social Health and Economic Education (PSHE) in UK secondary schools, covers issues including managing stress and developing effective coping strategies.
DEAL encourages teenagers to develop resilience and seek help, or use problems solving skills if they are having difficulty with coping with exams.
Samaritans education manager Karen Harvey said: “The most important thing is to get the message across that it is okay to talk to someone if you are struggling and there are lots of people you can go to for help.
“Samaritans DEAL resources are available online here: http://www.samaritans.org/education/deal/digital-resources Samaritans has also made two films to compliment the resources, which cover developing hope and resilience.”
DEAL resources guide teenagers taking exams through options they can take to make their stress more manageable:
- To understand that we all have control over how we react to a challenge or stressful events
- To understand the link between thoughts, feelings and behaviour.
- To be able to use some problem-solving skills.
- To recognise that how we react and cope is individual to each of us.
Jen said: “I want to get the message across to teenagers that they are not alone and there is lots of help out there for them if exam stress is getting to them.
“Although exams are important, it isn’t the end of the world if they don’t get the grades they want or onto the course they have chosen – there are always other choices.”
Here is a link to Primrose Kitten’s vlog about exam stress:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsZJaCVx414&feature=youtu.be
For further information, please contact Samaritans’ press office on 020 8394 8300 or [email protected].
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Notes to editors:
- Anyone can call Samaritans, you don’t have to be suicidal. Whatever you’re going through, call us for free any time from any phone on 116 123 (this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill), email [email protected], or visit www.samaritans.org to find details of your nearest branch.
- Samaritans responds to more than 5.7 million calls for help every year, offering emotional support by phone, email, text and face to face in its 201 branches across the UK and Republic of Ireland. For more information please see www.samaritans.org.
- It’s the public’s kind donations and more than 20,000 trained volunteers that mean Samaritans is always there for anyone struggling to cope. Find out how you can support us: http://www.samaritans.org/support-us