Articles published under the media release byline are news produced by the relevant business and remain unedited by Brews News. This media release was circulated by DrinkWise.

More than half of all female Year 12 students are worried about their mental health and are finding the disruptions of 2020 harder than their male counterparts as they head into their final exams.

According to new research undertaken nationally:

• 70% of females are feeling stressed about preparing for their exams compared to 55% of males.
• More than half of all surveyed females (53%) are worried about their mental health compared to just under one in three males (30%).
• Much greater proportions of female students report either overeating (36%) or not eating at all (14%) as a way of coping with stress.
• Females students are more than twice as likely to use drinking or smoking as a stress reliever (15% compared to 7%) and either spend time alone or not talk to anyone (38% compared to 19%).
• Nearly half of female students (44%) report ‘crying a lot’ as a way of coping with stress, compared to only 7% of males.

The findings are the basis for You Got This, an initiative launched by not-for-profit DrinkWise aimed at Year 12s as they head into their final exams.

Video messages of support have been sent by prominent women including 7.30 host Leigh Sales, Nine’s Georgie Gardner, Shadow Minister for Education Tanya Plibersek, Today’s Brooke Boney and writer Jamila Rizvi.

This is in addition to messages of support already online from the Governor-General His Excellency, General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd), Australian Test Captain Tim Paine, NRL players James Tedesco and Damien Cook and Nine’s Peter Overton.

The videos are being distributed via social media channels and hosted on the YouGotThis.org.au digital message board platform over the course of exams.
“2020 has been particularly tough for Year 12s and from this research, we can see how much more challenging it’s been for female students,” said DrinkWise CEO Simon Strahan.

“These results are confronting. We need to be doing everything we can to show Year 12s they’re supported as they head into their final exams.”

“It’s also important they remember that one year doesn’t define the rest of their lives and it’s critical that both students and their families who are feeling stressed or anxious know that help and support is available.”

“Trying to relieve stress or anxiety with drugs or alcohol is not the answer.”

Yougotthis.org.au has the support of Headspace, Beyond Blue, ReachOut, Kids Helpline and My Mirror support services and will include direct links to these services.

DrinkWise is an independent not-for-profit with a focus on creating a healthier and safer drinking culture in Australia.

For more information and to see the messages of support, visit yougotthis.org.au