FINALLY it’s the summer holidays!” Shouted the kids all excitedly as they ran out the school gates.

As a parent, the end of any school year is always an emotional one but this year, it has impacted me even deeper than I’d expected. “What a year!” Said a fellow parent in the playground. I couldn’t agree more as I tried not to bawl my eyes out in front of everyone.

The end of a school year is always one that takes you on a trip down memory lane.

The first day of school, at the start of a new academic year, is always filled with nerves and excitement as you meticulously prepare and pack everything for your wee one.

You embark on the next chapter of their growth and development and you ride the waves that come with it all. Throw in Covid and a pandemic, and most parents and teachers will agree, we’ve been trying to survive endless tsunamis whilst ensuring our kids remain as unaffected as possible by it all.

This last year has been hard for all pupils and students, their parents and of course they’re been unprecedented pressures put upon school teachers and staff. Never did we expect that education could be disrupted in the way it has been, that kids would have to spend most of their year isolated away from their friends and that parents would have to adapt to dual roles to support homeschooling and their own careers and livelihoods. What a year.

In my capacity as a GP, I have first hand seen the impact this pandemic has had on the wellbeing of children and young adults, the level of burnout amongst teachers and parents. I have never seen as much mental health as I’ve managed over the last six months and this number is increasing rapidly.

I gave two talks this week to students in both primary and secondary school where my focus was on mental health because not only have kids had to face the pressures that come with the normal curriculum, they have had to navigate changes on a frequent basis and this hasn’t been easy.

As human beings, we don’t do so well when it comes to change at the best of times. In fact, change from our everyday routines can trigger anxiety, panic and worry.

It can affect our physical wellbeing too where it can impact our sleep, our gut and appetite levels, our skin and cause headaches to name a few. Whilst adults can articulate it, children and young people need more active support.

We need to all start getting better at talking more honestly and openly about what we’ve been through. We need to get better at checking in with our children and ourselves and if needed, get the support and help we need to heal. There’s been an exponential rise in depression, anxiety, self harm and eating disorders and we need to address this as soon as possible.

With the easing of restrictions and a better summer (compared to the last) in sight, we need to take our foot off the pedal and just “be” for a bit.

Whilst we might not be able to jet off to fancy locations, we need to be grateful that we can meet up with others and travel within the UK (restrictions dependent).

I would urge all of you who care for and look after young people to be extra vigilant.

Ask them daily how they are with the intention and time to listen to them. Be there for them and if you’re concerned, talk to them or encourage them to see their doctor.

The same goes for yourselves – teachers, school staff and parents – we have all worked so very

hard and deserve the rest and break.

Be kind to yourselves, know that you’re not alone and give yourself a pat on the back for getting through to the end of the school year.

You have done an amazing job. All of you, well done!