The Age has advised in its recent editorial those who have sat or are sitting for year 12 exams to take a few steps back from the pressure cooker that can be the final school year as mental health experts are warning of rising levels of anxiety and depression among year 11 and 12 students
While most of us were going about our daily lives this week with no special concerns, for anyone studying year 12, and those close to them, Wednesday was a huge day - their VCE English exam and the start for most of that highly pressured assessment season.
For those thousands who wrestled with the English paper, here's the good news: however you felt about the exam, with its curious watermelon cartoon, your English mark and, indeed, your final ATAR score are not the measure of who you are.
Many schools are struggling with growing levels of perfectionism in teens.
Take a few steps back from the pressure cooker that can be the final school year. What most parents and teachers want for you is to see you do the very best you can, make the most of your opportunities, but above all to be well and happy.
You might be sick of hearing adults say balance is important - time spent studying offset with playing sport or catching up with friends. Sometimes grown-ups say the words without even really listening to themselves, but for the sake of your mental health now and in the future, you, and the people who care about you, have to walk the talk.
There are warning signs that we are not always getting this balance right. Recent research found that 52 per cent of year 12 girls have clinical levels of anxiety, and the number of students receiving special consideration for their VCE exams is the highest it has ever been, many cases due to mental health concerns.
