Suffolk Mind counsellor shares advice for young people this results day

With students across England receiving their A-Level results today, a Suffolk counsellor is urging young people to remember that "whatever is in the envelope, you can handle it."

Karys Matthams, a mental health toolkit trainer and counsellor with Suffolk Mind, says the pressure around exam season is something their team hears about all year round.

“Our children, family and young people department often talk to young people about the pressure they experience around exams and school in general,” she said.

“Concerns and worries come up about life outside of school too, so it’s a whole range of things that young people have on their minds.”

"You might find opportunities you weren’t expecting "

She wants students to remember that results day can bring new beginnings, even if the grades aren’t what they expected.

“If you get the results you were hoping for, you know the direction you’re going to take. If you don’t, this could actually be really exciting because it opens up a whole world of different possibilities,” Karys explained.

“You may feel disappointment or anxiety, but once those emotions have calmed, and they will calm, you might find opportunities you weren’t expecting that could even be better than what you’d originally planned.”

To help manage that initial rush of emotion, Karys recommends practising techniques like 7-11 breathing, breathing in for seven seconds, out for eleven, to bring your body back to a calmer state.

"We can adapt"

She says in the bigger picture, grades won’t define your whole future:

“In five or ten years’ time, you may have even forgotten what your exam results were because you’ve been having such a wonderful life adventure, doing things you never thought you were going to do, learning, growing, and developing as human beings do.”

Karys also encourages young people to recognise their own power to shape their path.

“We are in control of our lives. There are always options to overcome barriers, whether that’s something in the environment, finances, physical challenges, being around the wrong people, or feelings that come from inside of us like thinking we’re not good enough.

“We can adapt our environment, seek out new ones, or learn skills to manage strong emotions like anxiety. The more we stretch and challenge ourselves, the more confidence we build, and that’s true at any stage of life.”

Her key message for results day?

“Whatever’s in that envelope, just know you’re going to be able to deal with it. There are so many more opportunities out there than we expect, and anything you can do to meet your emotional needs is going to benefit you, not just now, but for the rest of your life.”