The Leaving Cert Journey – Stress & Wellbeing

📌 Focus:

Recognising pressure, spotting hidden stress, and simple supports for students and parents

👥 Guests:

• Owen Houlihan – Guidance Counsellor & Leaving Cert Helpline volunteer
• Dr Kim Lombard – Mental-Health Clinician, Jigsaw
• Alisha – First-year student (sat LC 2024)
• Tríona – Parent of a recent LC student (Donegal)

💡 Key Points:

• Why the Leaving Cert is more than “just an exam” – existential pressure & identity worries
• Hidden stress signals parents often miss (sleep, appetite, shoulder tension)
• Sleep, nutrition & Pomodoro study hacks that actually work
• Balancing praise: effort vs. points – shifting to an internal locus of control
• Re-framing mocks panic and “points-chat” peer pressure
• Practical routines—from box-breathing to tech wind-downs
• CAO myths busted: Level 6/7 backdoors & dropping out without shame
• Helpline inside view: top 3 questions in the first 24 hours of results

📞 Support Mentioned:

• NPC Helpline (year-round): 01 887 4477
• National Leaving Cert Helpline (results week only): 1800 265 165
• Jigsaw parent webinars: https://jigsaw.ie/neart/

🔗 Useful Links:

• NPC: https://www.npc.ie
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5KNpFWDHrjyZ5JqxaI4G6l
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/the-npc-podcast/id1772055386
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/ad65671c-9106-469e-b374-2f37c3043328/the-npc-podcast

🎧 Listen now:

Stream on your favourite app, share with a mate, and hit

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so you don’t miss the next instalment – “From Exams to Campus” (Episode 2).

📢 Hashtags:

#NPC #LeavingCert #StressSupport #Wellbeing #ParentingTeens