Colman Noctor: Student burnout is not limited to exam years

Dr Colman Noctor: "For many, the final stretch of the academic year is not just a countdown to freedom, but a period of overwhelming stress and emotional exhaustion."

Last week, nearly every time I checked my phone I found an email or a text about a young person who was struggling and looking for an appointment.

I get a surge of requests at this time of year, due to the impending State exams. However, most of the enquiries I got last week were not connected to the Leaving Certificate or Junior Certificate exams, which suggests that end-of-year stress extends to all students. After reviewing my emails, I found a similar trend last year. So why is this time of year particularly challenging for so many young people? The weather is improving; the sun has been out for the last week, and we are being treated to brighter and longer evenings, now the clocks have gone forward. Surely, they should be thriving?