The Alex Panton Foundation launched a social media campaign that coincided with the UK based, Mental Health Foundation’s Mental Health Awareness Week (14-20 May).

This year’s focus is on stress and the key role it plays in mental health issues. By tackling stress, we can go a long way to tackle mental health problems such as anxiety and depression. The Alex Panton Foundation’s campaign aims to provide teenagers and young adults with tools for exam related stress.

Exams and tests are a big source of stress, frustration and anxiety for many young adults. The stress comes from the importance of the exams and the pressure to do well.

Stress isn’t a psychiatric diagnosis, but it’s closely linked to mental health issues. Stress can cause mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression, and make existing problems worse.

During the month of May, many students in Cayman are either preparing for or taking their final exams, including GCSEs, A-levels, IB’s and University exams. Many young Caymanians are also taking courses and obtaining additional qualifications, including the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) qualification, to help further their careers.

As one of our key objectives is to provide support and tools for children, teenagers and young adults dealing with mental health issues, we felt that it was important not only to participate in Mental Health Awareness Week, through our corporate dress down day on Friday May 18^th, but to also localize it by focusing on a big source of stress for young people living in Cayman.