YEAR 12 STUDENTS FEEL THE PRESSURE

Over the next two weeks Year 12 students across WA will begin preparations for final exams. For most, the pressure of achieving good score can often lead to stress, anxiety or in extreme cases, depression. In an effort to assist with stress ReachOut have launched a nationwide campaign ‘There’s Life After Year 12 Exams’. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, Minister for Small Business Kelly O’Dwyer and Australia’s first Indigenous Minister Ken Wyatt are just some prominent Australians who have joined the campaign in support of Year 12 students. ReachOut Australia CEO Jono Nicholas said they were expecting large numbers of students to turn to ReachOut.com “During the 2014 exam period, visits to study and stress-related content on ReachOut increased by more than 500 per cent as more than 80,000 young people  accessed our service,” he said. The website includes links for students on how to study, how to beat exam stress, dealing with results and time management, just to name a few. “Year 12 students are feeling an enormous amount of pressure at exam time. So much so that 54 per cent say that too much is expected of them in Year 12, and 42 per cent even have concerning levels of anxiety,” said Mr Nicholas. “They’re feeling like their entire life depends on their Year 12 exams, but those who’ve been there before know that’s not the case.” Hannah Bognar is a Year 12 student at Bunbury Catholic College who hopes to study Occupational Therapy, a course which requires an 80 ATAR. “I don’t feel confident,” she said. “I have five exams so I feel stressed but am just trying to take it one thing at a time”. Exams for WA students will commence from the 2^nd of November. [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAohYvxl_ZE]