Hundreds of thousands of pupils sitting exams this week have been
helped to manage stress and anxiety by NHS teams in the
classroom.
Almost 600 hundred colleges and sixth form centres have NHS
clinicians offering one-to-one support, workshops, and training
for teachers on how to support pupils struggling with their
mental health.
More than 250,000 students aged 16-18 have received help for a
range of issues from anxiety or sleep difficulties which can be
exacerbated by exams, with GCSE exams starting this week, and A
Level exams from next week [w/c 12th May 2025].
As well as preparing students for the exam period, staff are on
hand to offer resilience training and coping strategies that can
be used for the rest of their lives.
Parents and carers also receive NHS support to ensure young
people receive consistent support both in and out of school.
One teenage student from Leeds, who wanted to remain anonymous,
said: "I just want to thank the team so much, it has made such a
difference to be able to talk to someone who understands and has
helped me understand myself and know how to look after my mental
health in the future.”
Claire Murdoch, NHS England's National Mental Health
Director, said: "Young people are facing more
pressures than ever before; from social media to living through a
once-in-a-generation pandemic.
“And we can really see that peaking at this time of year, as exam
season kicks off this week, but the NHS is here to help with
hundreds of teams working in classrooms to offer specialist
advice on how to manage stress and anxiety to hundreds of
thousands of children taking exams.
“We know that adolescence is a crucial time of life with half of
mental health disorders being present by the age of 14, so it is
absolutely vital that our NHS teams are able to offer students
easy access to support with the skills they learn helping them as
they enter the workplace or head off to university.”
Since the pandemic, Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) from
Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust have been working across
sixth forms in Leeds, helping hundreds of students build
resilience and improve their mental wellbeing.
Tina Edwards, Children & Young People's Mental Health
Service Manager at Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust,
said: “We know that the transition into adulthood
can be a really challenging time and by supporting young people
in sixth form, we're not only helping them with their immediate
mental health needs – we're also giving them the tools to cope
better in the future.
“Staff in education settings also tell us they feel more
confident talking about mental health and spotting early signs of
difficulties, which means students are getting the help they need
sooner.”
Another Leeds student reflected on their experience with the
support on offer, said: “I never imagined I'd be in this position
without the support I received. The service has been thoughtful,
kind, and genuinely caring throughout, and I'm so grateful to
have had that guidance during my time at college.”
Lauren Bailey, children and young people's community
manager in Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation
Trust's Mental Health Support Team said: “We are
passionate about seeing young people thrive and it is incredibly
rewarding being able to support students at such an important
time in their lives and seeing the positive impact we have.
“We work with sixth form students in 68 schools across
Hertfordshire focusing on areas such as self-esteem, resilience
and preparing students for adulthood.
Exam stress is also common in this age group, and we are able to
provide support and coping strategies which are techniques they
can take into the next
stage of their lives.”
Mental Health Minister, said: "We
know a lot of young people struggle with their mental health, and
early intervention is crucial.
"By expanding school-based support teams nationwide, we're
bringing help directly to students and ensuring easy access when
it matters most.
"Through our Plan for Change, this government will cut waiting
lists and increase access to mental health support,
regardless of where young people live or their
circumstances."
