Students across Lancashire and South Cumbria today will be nervously waiting to open their GCSE results. After several years of disruption caused by the pandemic, national results are expected to return to levels similar to 2019 which may leave some students feeling deflated.
Sam Tyrer, founder of Change Talks, knows first-hand the negative effect exam results can have on a young person’s mental health.
Sam explains:
“I didn’t do very well in my GCSEs and I remember the feelings of disappointment and regret when I opened my results. I didn’t take them seriously enough and I left myself feeling incredibly disappointed. At the time, I thought that my life was over. I thought I was destined to fail. However, in time I realised that I was in control of my life and that with some hard work, I could turn things around. Which now reflecting back, I would like to think I have exceeded my expectations”
Sam has used his own personal experiences and his passion to make things different for future generations in his creation of Change Talks.
The Change Talks programme launched six years ago with the mission to revolutionise the way we think, talk and act about mental health for young people. The main focus is to reduce stigma, increase awareness and promote positive coping strategies through workshops delivered in schools.
Sam continues:
“It is really important to be aware that today might not be a happy day for everyone, and as parents or carers you may be dealing with emotional children. You may yourself be underwhelmed by their results but protecting a young person’s mental health at this vulnerable time is really important.
Start firstly be asking them how they are feeling, reassure them it is okay to be open with you and you aren’t going to judge them. It might be easier to have these conversations in a neutral environment rather than sitting around your kitchen table. Suggest going for a walk or to a cafe to get some fresh air as talking whilst moving in an open space often feels less daunting.
Help the student make a list of their possible next steps, this might include researching resits, changing college or sixth form choices and exploring alternative courses such as apprenticeships or T-levels. Break the list into small chunks and tick off each task as you go, this will make the overall task seems less overwhelming.
Remind students the importance of not comparing themselves to others. This isn’t always easy but everyone is on their own journey. GCSE results don’t define a person or determine the rest of their life path, they are only a small part of the journey. They can’t control what has already happened but they can use this experience as motivation or a turning point for their next stage in life.
Social media will be flooded with posts and pictures celebrating, remind young people it is okay to stay away from social media for a few days if they find it triggers negative emotions. Reassure them it is nice to celebrate other successes but not to the detriment of their own wellbeing.”
Since the launch in 2018 Change Talks has reached over 100,000 young people within an educational setting, with the programme now extended to include primary school aged children.
We have a variety of self-help guides covering a wide range of topics including anxiety, depression and low mood and sleeping problems.
