Student Minds urges students to turn to their service after results day stress

This week saw the first A-level results in a year free of Covid restrictions and lockdowns and a return to normal examinations. But despite a turn to somewhat normality, students across the country are dealing with the after-effects of two years of unprecedented change. Results day is often a stressful experience, with many students feeling the pressure, in light of this Student Minds are advising students to utilise their tailor-made service: Student Space.

Written by Bryony Porteous-Sebouhian

A results day among reports that university applicants disclosing a mental health condition has risen by 453%

There has been near constant press about the worsening mental health of young people and students in 2022. As predicted, despite society ‘returning to normal’, as much as it could, the long-term impact of two years of disruption, anxiety and isolation is clear to see.

A Student Minds report, published in 2021, on the impact of the pandemic on students found that 74% of students said the pandemic had negatively impacted their mental health.

The world that the students who received their A-level results this week are moving into, though somewhat improved from the conditions of 2020 and 2021, still holds many of the same issues, while some – like financial stress – have now been exacerbated.

Student Minds have found that the areas in which students continue to need additional support are:

• Finances
• Social connectedness
• And challenging transitions.

A place of support for students moving into higher education

Student Space was launched in August 2020 by Student Minds, in response to the struggles students were experiencing due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Since then, it has helped over a quarter a million of students nationwide and has recently been backed by a three-year funding commitment to ensure the service stays open and available for students. 

The charity is urging students who recently received results to access their free 24/7 online mental health support, that will be available from results day, right through until the conclusion of their studies.

CEO of Student Minds, Rosie Tressler has said:

“Results day can bring up a variety of emotions as students take their next steps. Some students will be celebrating receiving the results they want and getting into their first choice university, others may go through clearing or to a second choice university and some students may be considering a different path to university. At Student Minds, we want to celebrate the hard work that has gone into students' exams and reassure students that your results do not define you. Everyone's path after results will be different and that’s okay.”

Tressler also emphasised that the period of stress and difficulty might extend throughout students’ move to university, possibly a new city, living independently and managing finances and ensured that Student Space will provide mental health and wellbeing support throughout the three years of any student’s studies.

Student Space was developed in collaboration with students, mental health services, higher education professionals and researchers.

It comprises several support elements including: advice and information (including resources on preparing for university, managing money worries and advice on how to best look after your mental health and wellbeing), student stories, direct support services (from phone lines to text to peer support services) and signposting to university and students’ union services.

Student space also provides a range of tailored services and content for students from different backgrounds, in acknowledgement that mental health can affect everyone differently.

Gareth Hughes, Psychoeducation Lead and psychotherapist shared with Student Minds, “We know some students wake up on results day to discover they didn’t get the results they hoped for. While this is of course disappointing, it does not mean the next part of your life won’t be good, that you won’t have a fulfilling career or that you won’t get to university…

“Feel how you need to feel, breathe and try and be kind to yourself. Then take time and frame your options and explore what next steps are available to you and what you want to do. Importantly, keep in mind that although your exam results may feel disappointing remember that they don’t have to shape the rest of your life.”

Helpful resources:

• Student Minds: Student Space
• Place 2Be: Free resources on navigating exam season
• Anna Freud Centre: Free exam results webinar for parents and carers
• BBC Bitesize: Tips for parents
• Student Space: Preparing for University
• Anna Freud Centre: Free university transition webinar for young people