Galway students reveal reality of Leaving Cert exam stress

The mental health of Galway teenagers is worsening every year because of the angst and pressure associated with sitting State examinations.

And, as the Leaving and Junior Certificate exams draw to a close, a Galway senator has demanded reform of the country’s secondary school exam system to address the heavy burden of stress and torment felt by students – and their parents and teachers.

The problem of exam pressure is so widespread Senator Fidelma Healy Eames, a former lecturer and teacher, says there is an “exam-stress epidemic” that is causing huge damage to adolescents.

Senator Healy Eames says exam pressure and expectation is heaping stress on students, who are increasingly developing mental health problems such as depression and anxiety, and turning to the CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) in greater numbers for help.

Two Galway mothers of exam students today reveal the negative impacts pressure and stress has had on their children. And a Galway teenager, who suffered from nausea, heart-palpitations and mild panic-attacks says the Leaving Cert made matters worse.

Michael (not his real name), is tall, good-looking and very good at sports but his problems meant he missed 90% of class-time and eventually had to be home-schooled. He finished exams this week and is relieved.

“There is huge relief it’s over but I’m still not 100%. The Leaving Cert exams didn’t help, there is a stress related to it. I’m still not 100% but hopefully I will be in the next few weeks,” he said.

His mother, Angela, says the CAO points ‘rat-race’ possibly contributed to the problem.

“It was the worst year of his life. For the rest of his life the mere mention of the Leaving Cert will make him shudder.”

She said it was “terrible that the education system was contributing to problems in the health system”.

Her GP said that Michael was not alone and that a quarter of all adolescents seen by their family doctor were referred to CAMHS; and professionals in CAMHS say the stress of exams means additional referrals to them. She said exams need reform; and that the current system of points, and bonus points for higher maths, adds stress and pressure and lends to rote learning, and paying for grinds, rather than a more holistic education.

Marie, a Galway mother who had two children sitting exams this June, says the system needs an overhaul to take pressure off students.

Her 17-year-old son, who sat the Leaving Cert, developed chronic fatigue last October, and the family believe it may be related to exam stress and anxiety.

The condition caused him to miss large chunks of school – he had to go home to sleep at various stages during the day.

The teenager sat exams in a special examination centre and was afforded an extra ten minutes per exam for breaks and exercise because of his chronic fatigue which can cause him to fall asleep.

“We don’t know for sure if it was directly caused by the exams but it only came on him in October and now that they are over he is improving – he’s not sleeping in the middle of the day, he’s not going to bed in the day, he’s got more energy. We’ll know more if he improves in the next four or five weeks,” explained Marie.

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.