12/03/2026
KERRY Mental Health Association is inviting Leaving Certificate students in the county to complete a survey to help determine the current state of their mental health and wellbeing.
The Irish Second-Level Students' Union - ISSU will distribute the anonymous online survey to final year students in Kerry on Wednesday 18th March and the deadline for completion is 5pm on Friday 27th March.
This year’s Leaving Certs had just started in 1st Year when the previous mental health survey of Leaving Certs was carried out in Kerry.
The General Manager of Kerry Mental Health Association, John Drummey, said, “Much has changed since this time five years ago. We must remember that the previous survey was conducted during Covid and at a time when the Department of Education had yet to decide whether 6th Years would sit the State Exams in 2021, which they didn’t.
“The current Leaving Cert class of 2026 were in 1st Year in 2021 having already missed out on the transition from primary to secondary school.
“They didn’t have the same introduction to their new schools, teachers, classmates and subjects as their predecessors, and now they are at the wrong end of the inflated marking process which is being phased out. They will be entering 3rd level as the housing/accommodation crisis continues to worsen.”
In 2021, 53% of students who completed the survey said they would not know where to go if they, or someone they know, needed help from professional mental health services right away.
Other key findings from the 2021 Survey:
*99% indicated that Covid-19 had created stress for them.
*86% of the respondents felt that Covid-19 had worsened their mental health, with over one third, 37% reporting that it had worsened their mental health significantly.
*90% of students were worried about the increased competition for 3rd Level places in 2021.
*69% were worried about not fitting in with others
*33% reported having been bullied at school
*31% reported having been bullied online
Kerry Mental Health Association is grateful to the Irish Second-Level Students Union who will distribute the survey to its members across secondary schools in Kerry.
The National President of the Irish Second-Level Students Union and a Kerry native, Preston Ó Caoimh, said, “It is really important that students are given the opportunity to speak openly and honestly about their mental health and wellbeing, particularly during such a significant and often stressful year in their lives.
“Initiatives like this survey from Kerry Mental Health Association give students a chance to have their voices heard and to highlight the real challenges they may be experiencing, both inside and outside of the school setting.
“At the Irish Second-Level Students’ Union, we believe the student voice must be at the centre of conversations about education and wellbeing.
“The findings of this survey will play an important role in helping schools, services and policymakers to better understand the experiences of Leaving Certificate students today and ensure that the appropriate supports are in place for them.”
The deadline for completion of the questionnaire is Friday 27th March 2026.
Kerry Mental Health Association supports people in Kerry with mental health challenges their families and carers. For more information on how to become a volunteer, email Volunteers@KerryMentalHealth.ie.
