Across Northern Ireland, thousands of young people will be anxiously awaiting the outcomes of their A-Levels and GCSE exams. The culmination of months of hard work and preparation; exam results day can evoke a mix of emotions in young people, from anticipation and excitement to stress and worry. In this article, we explore ways to recognize, manage, and help support young people to deal with stress, and aid both students and families in this challenging period. We have also prepared a handy guide with tips and links which you can download below.

Understanding Exam Results Stress

Feeling worried or anxious about exam results is completely normal. It’s essential to recognize the impact that this stress can have on mental and physical wellbeing. Individuals may experience disrupted sleep patterns, changes in appetite, persistent headaches, and difficulty in concentrating. To support young people during this period, both awareness and proactive strategies are key.

Support Strategies for Young People

• Open Up and Talk: Don’t bottle up your emotions – remember, you are not alone, there are thousands of young people who will be feeling exactly the same way. Reach out to friends, family, or teachers as they can provide valuable insights and comfort.
• Prepare for Different Outcomes: Plan for the best and worst outcomes, and what to do if you don’t get the results you need. Researching your options for the next steps is positive and proactive. Regardless of the outcome, plan something nice to do on results day as a treat, this can provide a sense of relief, and reward for your efforts.
• Maintain Routine and Hobbies: Keeping busy and engaged can be a powerful distraction. Continue pursuing your hobbies and maintain your daily routines. This can prevent overthinking and provide a sense of normality.
• Seek Support on Results Day: Having someone with you when you get your results may help ease your anxiety. A friend, family member, or teacher can offer reassurance and guidance. A good support network can help you as you discuss your options and make informed decisions moving forward.
• Avoid Unhealthy Comparisons: In the age of social media, the urge to compare yourself to others can be strong. Remember, everyone has different strengths and areas of growth. Success should be measured against personal achievements and goals.

Advice for Parents/Guardians

1. Provide Encouragement: Show interest in your child’s academic journey, but avoid placing excessive pressure on them. Your encouragement can motivate them without increasing their stress levels.
2. Recognize their hard work and effort, regardless of the outcome. Praising their determination can boost their self-esteem and resilience.
3. Remind young people that exam results are just one aspect of their abilities. Encourage them to see their strengths and potential beyond the results.
4. Be available to listen without judgment. Your support can make a significant difference in how they perceive and handle stress.

Exam result stress is a natural response to a significant life event, but it doesn’t have to define a young person’s self-worth or future direction. By fostering open communication, preparing for various outcomes, and offering consistent encouragement, we can empower young people to navigate this chapter of their lives with resilience and confidence. Remember, exam results are just one part of a larger journey toward personal growth and achievement.

Download our guide for young people:

Dealing with Exam Results Stress & Anxiety: A guide for Young People

Over the last few months, Action Mental Health New Horizon clients have been working with The MAC to create artwork for their ‘At The Table’ exhibition. This was part of a series of events which Action Mental Health clients had been involved in under the theme of ‘Uninvited Guest’. The thinking behind the theme is that people living with depression, stress, anxiety, PTSD or other mental health issues do not invite them into their lives but inevitably have to deal with these circumstances. Clients have worked with artists from The MAC and AMH staff to create upcycled chairs, fused glasswork, pyrography, photographs, poems, prose and drama based on this theme.

On 19^th May, The MAC hosted a Community Dialogue conversation on behalf of Action Mental Health. Hosted by Jim O’Neill from Community Dialogue (https://www.communitydialogue.org/) this event successfully brought together clients of Action Mental Health and invited guests, including health professionals and The Mental Health Champion to discuss mental health in Northern Ireland, while weaving in people’s lived experiences. This discussion was incredibly useful and enabled a 360 degree view of people experiencing mental ill health in Northern Ireland, whether through lived experience or in their chosen career. 

You can see pictures of some of the wonderful client produced artwork below as well as pictures from the conversation.

On the success of the event, Action Mental Health New Horizons Manager Aisling Doherty said, “I’m so grateful to all who participated in today’s event. It was a productive conversation and hearing so many different perspectives has had a positive effect on all. We had representatives from the Health Trusts, the PSNI, and those who are using creative and alternative approaches to mental health recovery. Thanks also to the Mental Health Champion, Siobhan O’Neill, who gave updates on the Mental Health Strategy and answered questions from our clients. A special thanks to our clients who spoke so poignantly about their lived experiences of mental health in Northern Ireland.”

Carers Week is an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring and help people who don’t think of themselves as having caring responsibilities to identify as carers and access much-needed support.

The campaign is brought to life by thousands of individuals and organisations who come together to provide support for carers, run activities and highlight the vital role carers play in our communities.

This years theme is ‘Recognising and supporting carers in the community.’ #CarersWeek

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What Action Mental Health are highlighting

Last year Action Mental Health launched a new service called the Mindful Carers Project. This project supports unpaid carers, young carers and carers of those with complex needs across NI through a range of programmes provided both face to face and online. (find out more here)

As part of the Mindful Carers Project, a Carers’ Advocacy Panel has been created to enable carers to highlight and campaign on issues related to carers’ mental health. With them we have created a number of resources below for Carers Week 2023.

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Resources for Carers Week 2023

Self Compassion Guide for Carers

We are all unique, our caring roles are unique, and how we deal with difficulty will be unique too. This guide will provide some small, doable activities to help look after your wellbeing. They might not all be for everyone but the aim of it is to help you find what works for you and give you the ability to show yourself some kindness and compassion when it’s needed most.

Read and download here

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Video Testimonies

We sat down with three Carers from our Carers Advocacy Panel who share some of their stories of how caring has impacted them and some things they do to help maintain good mental health.

Sarah’s Story

Deborah’s Story

Charlotte’s Story

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A New Deal for unpaid carers in Northern Ireland

As part of the Coalition of Carers Organisations NI we are also highlighting the ‘A New Deal for unpaid carers in Northern Ireland‘  report.

The report was co-designed with over 240 unpaid carers in Northern Ireland and sets out the priority policy changes they want to see in the realms of health and social care, welfare, housing, employment and more.

You can read the report here

Action Mental Health’s Chief Executive, David Babington has expressed extreme concern at the findings highlighted in the Northern Ireland Audit Office Report: “Mental Health Services in Northern Ireland” which has just been published. While many of the findings are sadly unexpected, the report emphasises the very stark reality for local mental health services. The report clearly states “the successful implementation of NI’s 10-year Mental Health strategy is at risk without sustained, additional investment.” The report also shows that spending on mental health here is around 32% less per capita than in other parts of the UK, and estimates that we would need to spend around £190m extra per annum to bring us in line with elsewhere in the UK. Conversely however, the report also stated that Mental Health’s share of overall health budget has fallen between 2010-11 & 2019-20.  Following this theme it suggests a funding gap in the region of £8m in 2019-20 for vital CAMHS services

Overall, the report shows that even with the highest need, Northern Ireland still has the lowest level of mental health funding across the British Isles. This is undoubtedly contributing to many people not receiving the support they need in a timely fashion and the report also shows how waiting lists have increased since pre-pandemic. At the time of writing 16,000 people were on a waiting list. Around half of those on mental health waiting lists wait longer than the nine and 13-week target standards, with particular issues identified in relation to psychological therapies.

It should also be noted that the figures quoted in this report are based on previous years and will not take account of the current budgetary challenges facing services in Northern Ireland. Organisations in the voluntary sector, such as Action Mental Health, have already had to reduce services across Northern Ireland since April 2023, due to severe budget cuts already imposed and further, future uncertainty.  These cuts in the voluntary sector will only be compounded by further reductions in statutory services as we move forward. In addition the report also doesn’t cover the undoubted impacts the cost of living crisis is having on the mental health of our population right now.

David Babington commented “The current situation is untenable, we need urgent action to see local Government restored and significant additional funding from Westminster to address these issues which are impacting on the lives of thousands of people across Northern Ireland, many of whom are really  struggling and extremely vulnerable.”

You can read the full report here.

Under his guidance, the Managing the Challenge program underwent a complete transformation, aligning with key objectives set by health professionals from the WH&SCT. The revamped program has been successfully rolled out, with plans to deliver 25 courses throughout the year in both in-person and remote sessions.

David’s commitment to excellence extended beyond program development, as he trained seven new Associate trainers to ensure high standards of delivery. The programme has moved from a licensed programme to one that belongs to AMH and provides the flexibility to adapt and change content to reflect more individual and client needs.

David’s innovative approach to program design also included creating online flip-books enriched with valuable resources and videos, as well as visually appealing posters and engaging social media content using Canva. He also collaborated with other organizations to make the program accessible to marginalized groups, employing strategies derived from various fields of psychology.

Throughout his tenure, David consistently pursued excellence, setting clear, target-focused goals and establishing the program as a benchmark for quality and effectiveness. He played a vital role in transitioning the program to be fully owned by AMH, facilitating improved communication and empowering clients to actively engage in their recovery.

Action Mental Health Chief Executive David Babington congratulated David on his achievement. ‘David Tierney has made exceptional contributions and shown unwavering dedication, which will make a lasting impact on countless clients of AMH. His achievements exemplify the values of innovation, creativity, and excellence which merit the granting of this award.’

 

OUR Generation, celebrated the launch of its brand new app as part of Mental Health Awareness Week.

David Babington, CEO of Action Mental Health, addressing teachers and pupils at Dromintee Promary School.

The event took place at Dromintee Primary School on Monday 15^th May, with one lucky P.7 class given the chance to try it out for themselves.

OUR Generation is an EU PEACE IV-funded project led by Action Mental Health, which has been match funded by The Executive Office and Government of Ireland. The project aims to build positive relations and emotional resilience in children and young people.

Ulster University is one of a number of partners involved in the project, and the OUR Generation app was developed in collaboration with researchers at the University’s School of Psychology along with Prof. Maurice Mulvenna of the AI Research Centre in the University’s School of Computing.

The app aims to educate children & young people about mental health and wellbeing. It is designed as a game, featuring 5 levels with activities relating to mental health and well-being, coping and problem-solving skills, perspective taking, empathy and intergroup contact & trust.

OUR Generation partners fed into the content, with the view to ‘gamify’ aspects of programmes currently being delivered by them.

Children and young people were also involved in workshops across Northern Ireland and the border area to help app co-design the app.

The app is divided into two age categories, 11 years old and under, and 12 years old and above. Activities include simple drag-and-drop games as well as videos and links to other sources of help and support.

Players can select from four buddies who guide them through the app – Stripey, Roby, Hoofy or Bulby. Users earn stars as they complete their journey through the levels and climb the leader board from expert, ambassador, champion to genius.

Prof. Maurice Mulvenna, who was involved in the app’s design and development, said:

“The OUR Generation App will provide a fun, free, safe, and engaging way for children, young people, and emerging adults to tackle their worries on mental health and well-being, so they can build resilience, gain confidence, and thrive.”

He added: “The OUR Generation App aims to demonstrate an improvement in the emotional resilience of children and young people. The anonymous usage data collected will help us answer the question of whether using the App can improve the knowledge, skills and behaviours of users and improve users’ resilience.

David Babington, CEO of Action Mental Health, speaking at the launch event, said:

 “We’re delighted to be launching the OUR Generation app at Dromintee Primary school. It was important to us that children and young people were involved in the co-design of this app, and pupils from Dromintee were involved in our initial research workshops that helped us get a sense of what types of apps they like to play, and the kind of content they enjoy.”

He added: “We hope the OUR Generation app will be used as a digital learning tool by children, young people and their key contacts to help develop awareness around resilience, mental health and wellbeing. For many years, Action Mental Health has been working to give children and young people the skills they need to look after their mental health through traditional programmes, so I am delighted to see this support develop digitally also.”

The OUR Generation app is free and can be downloaded from the Google Play Store and the Apple Store.

The objective of the OUR Generation project is ‘Growing Up Better, Together’. It is currently being delivered on both sides of the border in education, youth and community settings across the Five Urban Village Areas of Northern Ireland, the Border Region of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Its aim is to build positive relations and emotional resilience in communities impacted by four decades of the Troubles, to help tackle the legacy of the conflict across the island of Ireland.

Seven organisations have partnered with lead partner Action Mental Health, including Donegal Youth Service, Co-Operation Ireland, Youth Action NI, YouthWork Ireland, PlayBoard NI and Ulster University.

Together, the organisations have utilised EU PEACE IV funding to support communities to tackle post-conflict peace building and mental health. The project will run until September 2023. The Executive Office in Northern Ireland, and the Government of Ireland have provided match funding for the project.

OUR Generation will reach over 36,000 children and young people who will engage in programme design and delivery, including provision of peer support, developing skills and confidence to improve well-being within their communities. They will also act as agents of change, building peace for future generations.

How to Download

Here is a magic link (depending on which device you access the page from, it will take you to the correct App Store): https://ourgeneration.fluxguide.com/fluxguide/appstore
The direct App Store links would be:

Here is a magic link (depending on which device you access the page from, it will take you to the correct App Store): https://ourgeneration.fluxguide.com/fluxguide/appstore
The direct App Store links would be
– Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fluxguide.ourgeneration
– Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/our-generation/id6444150482

Spring has sprung a number opportunities to fundraise over the next couple of months, so get involved in the events below and help us raise vital funds for Action Mental Health.

Belfast City Marathon 2023

30 April 2023

9am

Join us on 30^th April at Belfast City Marathon as we get active and fundraise for vital mental health services in Northern Ireland.

You can take part in a number of different ways. Whether you are running the whole event, being part of a relay team or doing the 8 mile walk.

Deadline for entries to these events is 7 April.

Sign up for the event here and join our fundraising team here.

Great Big Purple Picnic 2023

15 May – 21 May 2023

Host a picnic for your business colleagues and collect donations for us as your local mental health charity.

If you need any support or ideas with your fundraising event do not hesitate to contact the team: [email protected].

Skydive for Mental Health

21 May 2023

Do you want to conquer your fears and take to the skies? Why not take on our skydive challenge of 15,000ft this May!

We have limited spaces available.

Sign up here

Action Mental Health’s ambassador and former Belfast Giant Kevin Raine has hosted a very special fundraiser in aid of Action Mental Health. Kevin who recently retired from competitive sport, organised the fundraiser in conjunction with his company Personal Best, Giants’ supporter Angela Cragg Wright and the Stephen Clements Foundation.

Just before Christmas, Personal Best ran a giveaway with the grand prize being the first ever Personal Best jersey, of which Angela was the winner. Not content to just accept the prize, Angela decided there must be a way to raise funds for a good cause and came up with the idea of raffling off the jersey in aid of a mental health charity in memory of Stephen Clements.

Action Mental Health were the lucky beneficiaries and Angela explained why she chose the charity:

“I chose Action Mental Health as the charity to be the beneficiary simply because I’d become aware of the charity through Kevin’s role as ambassador and his previous fundraising efforts, I remember the hair before the shave! During his life Stephen was always helping charities and inspired others to do the same. With the help of Personal Best being able to hand over this cheque in memory of Stephen is a huge honour. I am so pleased that this money can help AMH deliver its services to those who need it, raise awareness surrounding mental health and help break the stigma that surrounds it. I have no doubt that Stephen’s legacy will continue to help others.”

Gavin Clements from Stephen Clements foundation commented:

“We are so honoured that AMH, Personal Best and especially Angela have dedicated the shirt in Stephen’s memory.  Stephen had a very close relationship with the Belfast Giants and we continue to support any work that promotes mental wellbeing for all.”

The raffle raised the £1139 and Kevin, Angela and Gavin were on hand to present the charity with the funds raised.

Karen Quee, Service Manager at Action Mental Health was delighted to receive the funds and commented “we are thrilled by the ongoing support that Kevin gives and we are really touched by this special fundraiser, which not only raises vital funds for our charity, but also helps raise awareness of the importance of looking after your mental health. It is also a really special tribute to Stephen Clements.”

Kevin Raine explained why he is so passionate about supporting the work of Action Mental Health:

“I believe that the importance of organisations like Action Mental Health can’t be overstated. Inspired by what they stand for, I am called to use my platforms to spread positivity, inclusion, and encouragement. The messages suggesting “seek help in a time of need” or “talk to someone” were ones I’d heard many times before I decided to invest in my mental wellbeing. I believe that by echoing these same messages of compassion and encouragement, my words might be the ones some might need to hear.”

Image pictured left to right:

Gavin Clements (The Stephen Clements Foundation), Angela Cragg Wright (Fundraiser), Karen Quee (AMH), Kevin Raine (Personal Best), Charlene McShane (AMH).