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Whether it's too much homework or too few facilities in their communities, the things that cause stress in young people may differ from adults, but they have similar effects on their physical and mental health. What do young people say about the stuff that stresses them out - and how do they deal with it?

Gavin: 

My maths teacher stresses me out - he's always on my back and focuses his attention on me.  We didn't get on at the beginning of the year and he won't let things be in the past. Also I get too much homework - sometimes it takes up the whole night and I feel like I don't have the time to do it.  I know when I'm stressed because I feel tired, drained, and angry. Sometimes it can go if I spend half an hour on my own, but other times I need to go to sleep and it will be OK the next day. Music relieves it - it calms me down and relaxes me.

Jemma:

I'm doing a performing arts course and it should be team work, so it really stresses me when the others aren't pulling their weight. I'm the one who has to try and get them moving. I start talking really quickly and lose my temper easily when I'm stressed. I try to calm down and relax with a hot bubble bath. If it doesn't go away talk to someone so it doesn't get worse.

Ashley:

There are things that frustrate me. When my mum comes in from work and she's in a bad mood she has a go at me - arguing and shouting at me. I don't like that, but also I hate living in this town. There's nothing to do round here and not many young kids my age. We do the same thing everyday. I don't think there's any point in getting stressed, though.  When people are getting stressed they should think of something they like and focus on that.  

Charlotte:

Exam pressure is nerve-racking and makes me want to get down in a corner and cry! I've got my music exam tomorrow and I'm the last one doing it, everyone else has got really good grades so it puts even more pressure on me.   Sometimes I feel ill when I'm stressed, physically sick. I write myself notes to say how I feel, then rip them up and this makes me feel better. If you keep things bottled up it gets worse and worse.

Jahangir:

Living in this area is a stress. Most of us have had arguments with the council about there being nothing to do, and trying to get them to give us more facilities. They make promises and then nothing happens. We want clubs and Astroturf like they have in other towns, Young people round here have nothing to do but hang around in gangs. I want to fight when I'm stressed but I don't, instead I do boxing to relieve it.