ONLINE learning may be familiar to most students now, but with looming exams and a statewide lockdown, Port Macquarie year 12 students are encouraged to look after their mental health and reach out if they need support.
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Headspace Port Macquarie services manager David Rogers said there are a number of tips and tricks students can use to help manage the stress of the HSC.
"The best thing for students to do is to make sure they're eating well, sleeping enough and exercising as well," he said.
"All of these help to improve mental health and wellbeing."
Communicating with friends can also aid young people during times of stress.
"Getting study groups together can also be really useful because it allows students to support and help each other and opens up a space where they can talk about exams and what they're struggling with," Mr Rogers said.
"Students can also talk to their parents or role models about the stress of exams or can reach out to us at Headspace."
Some tips from Headspace for studying with less stress:
- Prepare a study plan and goals for each day / week. Make sure it's balanced with other important things in your life - that way it will be easier to stick to.
- Talk to your employers early to let them know you need to limit your shifts / hours while studying.
- Create a study space that is comfortable, quiet, well lit, organised, and has no distractions nearby, such as a TV, phone, people talking, etc.
- Make sure you have everything you need for each study session as this helps to feel more confident and organised.
Headspace Port Macquarie also runs a Youth Reference Group which includes three students who are currently in their final year of high school, Headspace community engagement officer Julie Jamieson said.
"Through those three students we are capturing information about how they are feeling heading into exams," she said.
"Our other members of the Youth Reference Group, who are now in university, said the end of school was the most stressful time of their life."
Headspace is also working to introduce peer support seminars to help support year 12 students.
"We also want to do follow-up sessions on this so they get the support they need, that way they aren't attending one session and then that's it. There will be that continued support," Ms Jamieson said.
"It is very important to make sure students are handling stress in a safe way."
The majority of young people presenting to Headspace Port Macquarie are between 15 and 17.
"This is a period when school becomes more stressful which can lead to a lot of anxiousness," Ms Jamieson said.
Headspace Port Macquarie will also be holding their first Spill the Beans event in early September, with the aim of the project to bring young people together to share and connect.
"Spill the Beans is going to build on social connection between students in their senior years of high school and university students.
"We're looking at having these as face-to-face sessions in September, but can adapt that to online if we need to."
To find out more about Headspace and their services, visit their Facebook page or sign up to their newsletter.
If you need support, contact Headspace Port Macquarie on 6588 7300.
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