As we are in the midst of Mental Health Awareness Week and the week falls right in the middle of exam season, it’s only fitting at RADAR that the conversation has turned to exam stress and its negative effects. You may feel that in the lead up to your exams stressing out is the natural response and a necessary evil to motivate you to work harder. But research carried out by the NSPCC have found that school pressures and mental health concerns in young people are “closely linked with young people not wanting to disappoint their parents, confessing fear of failure and finding it hard to tackle the pressures linked to academic achievement”.
Mental Health Awareness Week 2016 takes place from 16th-22nd May. One in four people will be affected by a mental health problem at some stage in life, and 100,000 people in Northern Ireland alone suffer from depression at any point in time. Unfortunately, a lot of people who encounter problems with their mental health say that the social stigma and the discrimination they experience can make their difficulties worse. It can be harder to recover despite the fact that these health problems are actually very common. That’s why it’s so important to be self aware! Here are a few simple tips to help you maintain strong mental health.
It is important to address stress and get it under control. Stress Awareness month helps to raise awareness of the real health problems stress can cause. Stress Awareness month helps to raise awareness of the real health problems stress can cause.