Latest news with #teenwellbeing
Daily Mail
06-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Expert reveals how to comfort your teens after the 'post-exam emotional slump'
As exam season ends across the UK, many parents expect their teens to come home breathing a sigh of relief, but for some students, the finish line brings a sense of exhaustion. According to Lindsey Wright, who is a child learning specialist and Senior Tutor at leading education platform Tutors Valley, this post-exam emotional slump is far more common than many parents realise and it has both biological and psychological roots. 'A lot of students feel totally lost when the pressure lifts,' Lindsey explains. 'They've been in survival mode for so long and, once it ends, they don't know what to do with themselves. Some even feel guilty for not feeling happier.' While it can be unsettling to see your child experience this emotional dip, the good news it there are things you can do to help them reset. Lindsey revealed parents can help comfort their teens with five easy steps, including letting them sleep in and encouraging them to do some exercise. Meanwhile the expert stressed how important it is to 'praise their efforts' instead of focusing too much on results. She explained: 'The first step is simply recognising and validating how they feel. Let them know it's normal to feel a bit lost or low after a major event like this.' Next, Lindsey warned to avoid rushing to 'fix' the mood or dismissing it with 'you should be happy now' messaging. Instead, listen and let them speak openly. As we know, exercise boosts serotonin, which helps regulate mood, energy and well-being and this can be used to their advantage if feeling low. She said: 'You don't have to send them to the gym. A walk, a bike ride, or even something like swimming can help release stress and improve their mood.' Meanwhile Lindsey revealed that exams often come with significant sleep debt, which can worsen mood, anxiety and cognition. She said: 'Let your teen catch up - but aim for a balanced routine. Short-term catch-up sleep, including naps, can help. But restoring a regular sleep pattern is better for long-term mental health.' Elsewhere she added that students should be encouraged to reconnect with things that brought them joy before revision took over; that might be an old hobby, a creative outlet, or time with friends. Lindsey said: 'Even a small environmental change, like rearranging their room or taking a family day trip can help to mark the transition and take them away from a space they've been associating with stress.' Finally, avoid focusing solely on future results and make sure to praise the effort and resilience they've shown, regardless of what the grades might be. She added: 'Students need to hear that their value isn't tied to exam grades. If they learn that now, it will help protect their mental health far beyond this exam season.' Why some students feel worse after exams Post-exam blues are a well-documented phenomenon but they often catch students and parents off guard. Lindsey points to several causes: Cortisol crash During exam season, the body produces high levels of cortisol, a stress hormone that helps students stay alert and focused. But once the immediate pressure ends, the sudden drop in cortisol can lead to mental fatigue, disrupted sleep cycles, and a general sense of emotional 'crash.' 'It's like the body's been running on adrenaline and now it's empty. We expect a feeling of triumph, but many feel deflated instead.' Burnout from preparation The intense build-up to exams often includes months of revision, a lot of pressure, and possibly some sleep deprivation. This level of sustained stress leaves students physically and mentally exhausted - often too drained to enjoy their freedom. Anxiety about results Even when exams are over, the outcome still looms. Many students become preoccupied with 'what ifs,' worrying about missed questions, imagining worst-case scenarios, or obsessively comparing their performance to others. Perfectionism and self-criticism Students with perfectionist tendencies may find themselves ruminating over every answer, replaying their decisions, and focusing more on perceived mistakes than on the effort they put in. 'We see students who did brilliantly by any standard, but they're upset because they didn't answer one question perfectly'. Peer pressure and comparison culture Even after the exams are done, many students stay locked into competitive thinking. Social media posts and casual conversations about how others felt they did can intensify stress and prevent them from properly relaxing. Cultural and identity pressures In the UK and other academic cultures, achievement is often tied to identity and self-worth. The pressure to succeed can leave students feeling like exam results define their value, whether it's from parents, teachers, peers, or internalised expectations.
Irish Times
14-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Times
Irish teens rank in bottom half in developed world for wellbeing
Irish teenagers are in the bottom half for wellbeing in high-income countries despite leading in academic performance, the latest report by Unicef has found. The report – Report Card 19: Child Wellbeing at Risk in an Unpredictable world – compares the wellbeing of children across 43 countries in the EU and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Of these, Ireland ranks 24th for adolescent wellbeing, placing it in the bottom half globally. Drawing on official data and offering analysis, the study also reveals Ireland's youth suicide rate to be above the international average, standing at 6.4 per 100,000. 'These findings are stark,' said Peter Power, executive director of Unicef Ireland. READ MORE 'Ireland's teens are succeeding in school, but struggling in life. We must match our investment in academic achievement with the same urgency for mental and emotional wellbeing,' he added. Nearly one in three 15-year-olds in Ireland reported low life satisfaction, while analysis from 2018 to 2022 indicates declining life satisfaction in adolescents across 22 of 26 countries with available data. Unicef pointed to the role of school closures and widespread social isolation during this period due to the Covid-19 pandemic in disconnecting adolescents from critical support systems. 'The pandemic has deepened existing inequalities, setting a troubling precedent for children's wellbeing – particularly among those from disadvantaged and marginalised backgrounds,' said Aibhlin O'Leary, head of advocacy at Unicef Ireland. 'To respond meaningfully, we need a unified, child-centred strategy that tackles these disparities head-on and supports every child, at every stage of their development.' Also highlighting physical health risks, the report found that more than one in four children and adolescents in Ireland are overweight or obese. Unicef Ireland has called on the Government to take targeted actions to protect child wellbeing, including increasing investment in school mental health services and reducing waiting times for the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS), improving school meals and strengthening digital resilience within the Junior Cycle curriculum.
