Should I drop out of year 13? Mental health
Hi everyone,
I’m in year 13 doing 3 a levels and an epq. I am naturally academic and predicted A*A*A*A*. However, unfortunately I’m currently experiencing the worst mental health crisis I have ever had. My depression (diagnosed) has really plummeted despite medication and I can barely function (I can’t get out of bed, leave the house, eat, etc) and I’m in a very tough point in my life despite an amazing support system and school. I have been struggling to even get to school and the amount of anxiety and difficulty I have when I’m there is indescribable. So I want to know what people have done in similar situations to me or what to do? Mental health problems are so common nowadays and I know I’m not the only one suffering so any advice would be helpful. I’m considering potentially dropping out and restarting year 13 in September or maybe an apprenticeship. I don’t know I’m smart and do want to go to uni but I really need to prioritise my mental and physical health. Any help is appreciated
Thanks so much.
I’m in year 13 doing 3 a levels and an epq. I am naturally academic and predicted A*A*A*A*. However, unfortunately I’m currently experiencing the worst mental health crisis I have ever had. My depression (diagnosed) has really plummeted despite medication and I can barely function (I can’t get out of bed, leave the house, eat, etc) and I’m in a very tough point in my life despite an amazing support system and school. I have been struggling to even get to school and the amount of anxiety and difficulty I have when I’m there is indescribable. So I want to know what people have done in similar situations to me or what to do? Mental health problems are so common nowadays and I know I’m not the only one suffering so any advice would be helpful. I’m considering potentially dropping out and restarting year 13 in September or maybe an apprenticeship. I don’t know I’m smart and do want to go to uni but I really need to prioritise my mental and physical health. Any help is appreciated
Thanks so much.
Reply 1
Original post
by AnonymousHi everyone,
I’m in year 13 doing 3 a levels and an epq. I am naturally academic and predicted A*A*A*A*. However, unfortunately I’m currently experiencing the worst mental health crisis I have ever had. My depression (diagnosed) has really plummeted despite medication and I can barely function (I can’t get out of bed, leave the house, eat, etc) and I’m in a very tough point in my life despite an amazing support system and school. I have been struggling to even get to school and the amount of anxiety and difficulty I have when I’m there is indescribable. So I want to know what people have done in similar situations to me or what to do? Mental health problems are so common nowadays and I know I’m not the only one suffering so any advice would be helpful. I’m considering potentially dropping out and restarting year 13 in September or maybe an apprenticeship. I don’t know I’m smart and do want to go to uni but I really need to prioritise my mental and physical health. Any help is appreciated
Thanks so much.
I’m in year 13 doing 3 a levels and an epq. I am naturally academic and predicted A*A*A*A*. However, unfortunately I’m currently experiencing the worst mental health crisis I have ever had. My depression (diagnosed) has really plummeted despite medication and I can barely function (I can’t get out of bed, leave the house, eat, etc) and I’m in a very tough point in my life despite an amazing support system and school. I have been struggling to even get to school and the amount of anxiety and difficulty I have when I’m there is indescribable. So I want to know what people have done in similar situations to me or what to do? Mental health problems are so common nowadays and I know I’m not the only one suffering so any advice would be helpful. I’m considering potentially dropping out and restarting year 13 in September or maybe an apprenticeship. I don’t know I’m smart and do want to go to uni but I really need to prioritise my mental and physical health. Any help is appreciated
Thanks so much.
I hear you. Well done for getting high predicted grades despite your circumstances.
Continue to communicate with your School and Parents about how you're feeling, and what you're thinking in respect to your academics and future going forward. A letter from your GP (especially if they prescribed you the medication) is helpful in validating what you're experiencing and 'reassuring' your School.
Have you written your Personal Statement/have a UCAS application ready to submit if you wanted to?
If so, you could sit A-Levels in 2026, and could submit a deferred application for 2027 entry.
Or, you could sit A-Levels in 2027, and submit your UCAS application (again) for 2027 entry.
If not, then you could either focus on learning content and revising to sit A-Levels in 2026, take a gap year and reapply to Unis with achieved grades, or effectively 'repeat' Year 13, have two rounds of A2 content, submitting an application and sitting A-Levels in 2027.
Another way of going about things is to leave School now, and negotiate with your School such that you're able to continue with Year 12 next September, to submit a UCAS application and sit A-Levels in 2027, although I don't know how this plays out in practice and I probably wouldn't recommend it.
Honestly? I'd rather be safe than sorry. The most important thing for you is to communicate with your support network and try to attend School. I'd delay sitting A-Levels by one Year, if you're struggling to get out of bed. I completely relate to what you're going through.
Send me a message if you'd like to talk about it further, as I'm currently going through a similar conundrum for the same reasons. 🙂
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