Thousands of students sitting exams in London are being helped to manage stress and anxiety by NHS mental health support teams.
In London, 18,505 children and young people have received help for a range of issues such as anxiety or sleep difficulties which can be exacerbated by exams, with GCSE and A Level exams underway across the capital.
As well as preparing students for the exam period, trained and experienced staff are on hand to offer resilience training and coping strategies that can be used for the rest of their lives.
Almost 600 colleges and sixth form centres across the country have NHS-funded clinicians offering one-to-one support, workshops and training for teachers on how to support young people struggling with their mental health.
Chief nurse for the NHS in London Karen Bonner said: “Many young people across the capital are taking their GCSE and A Level exams, and we recognise that young people are facing more pressures than ever before, something that can peak at this time of year.
“The NHS is here to help with the implementation of mental health support teams in education settings across the region, working with colleges and schools to offer specialist advice on how to look after themselves and keep well.
“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.”
There are 120 mental health support teams in London in various education settings, including special schools, local authority-maintained schools, and free schools among others.
Mujtabha Nawaz, clinical supervisor for the Mental Health Support Team at West Central London Mind said: “The work the mental health support team does is incredibly important for young people, parents and school staff. Early intervention is vital to support mental health and to prevent young people only receiving support once they reach crisis point.
“By working across the networks involved with young people, for example schools and parents, we are in a great position to be able to challenge the stigma associated with mental health.”One student said: “Having someone from the mental health support team to talk to has helped me feel more confident about my exams. When I was doing my exam the other day I could turn my negative thoughts into positive ones, so I could focus on my exam.”
Tonya Frost, assistant head teacher at St George’s secondary school and designated mental health lead said: “We are very grateful for all the work the mental health support team carries out at St George’s, especially supporting students with anxiety on a one-to-one basis and delivering to whole-year groups. We are in the middle of exam season and are impressed with the confident, calm manner of all our students, but particularly those who have been previously identified as struggling with anxiety at these times.”
Priya Thakrar Head of Year 8 at Grey Coat Hospital, a secondary school for girls in Westminster, said: “Mental health support teams help a number of our students with their mental health. The practitioners are skilled in reassuring and supporting students who experience exam-related anxiety and helping them to develop practical coping strategies. To be able to speak to an adult unconnected to home or school provides a safe space for young people to navigate their way through the challenges they face.”
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