Durban - The release of the matric results is a time of joy and celebration for those who have passed. But for those who have not, or who have not done as well as they had hoped to, it can be a difficult time emotionally, one which can be marred by depression and a sense of hopelessness.
The South African Depression and Anxiety Group’s (Sadag) Cassey Amor said what constituted “failure” varied from pupil to pupil.
“Some think of it as not scoring as many distinctions as they had wanted to, others see it as not getting a university exemption. It’s all relative and different,” she said.
Pupils who contacted the organisation at this time of year were typically worried about how they would tell their parents they had not done well in their exams.
Amor said it was a difficult topic for them to broach. “Many feel like they can’t speak to anyone,” she said.
But communication was key and, ideally, if pupils suspected they had not done well, they should try to let their parents know before results were released, Amor said.
“Learners can sit down with their parents and put together an action plan and, that way, they won’t feel so overwhelmed,” she said.
She encouraged teens who struggled to communicate with their parents to write them a letter or to go through an older sibling, or aunt or uncle.
Educational psychologist Nicola Buhr said throughout school, the importance of matric results was frequently emphasised.
“The pressure from others and yourself to do well is high, and finding out that you did worse than you expected, or that you failed, is often a very public failure, with family and friends all interested in your results.”
Buhr said it was important to realise that YOU were not a failure, you experienced failure. “If you have failed or performed poorly, use it as an opportunity to learn and grow. Think about why you failed and what you could have done differently,” she said.
Concerned parents should reiterate that it was not the end of the world, and that there were always options.
“Speak to your child about their fears and thoughts and discuss how they feel about their failure,” she said. “Conversations should be constructive and engage in problem solving.”
If you or someone you know might be suffering from depression, contact Sadag at 0800 121 314.
The Command Centre is a 24-hour toll-free line that offers counselling support by trained social workers for victims of gender-based violence but, for a limited period, will be opened for both parents and matriculants struggling to deal with the anxiety and tension surrounding the release of results.
The Command Centre can be reached toll free on 0800 428 428. Callers can also ask a Command Centre social worker to contact them by dialling *120*7867# from any cellphone.
Daily News
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