Samuel Gardiner MLA, Ulster Unionist Assembly member for Upper Bann, said today that students sitting examinations should receive counselling in how to cope with stress. His remarks come after it emerged that the use of Prozac to treat exam stress had trebled in the last decade.

It is alarming that over 140,000 Prozac prescriptions are written each year to cope with exam stress. That figure is three times what it was a decade ago, explained Mr Gardiner.

The statistics, from the governmentis drugs watchdog, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) , highlights the pressure being put on students by the exams system. They show that, in 1995, 46,000 anti-depressants prescriptions were given to teenagers between 16 and 18 in full-time education. By last year this had risen to 140,000, more than treble the amount. There has also been a rise of almost 50 per cent in the amount of so-called happy drugs, such as Prozac and Seroxat, dispensed to youngsters under 16. Since 1996, the figure has risen from 76,000 prescriptions to 110,000 added Mr Gardiner.

I think young people between the ages of 16 and 18 have to face far too many public examinations. No sooner have they finished their GCSEs than they have to face AS levels and then, within another year, they have to sit A2 levels. We are over-examining students, said Mr Gardiner.

I is alarming that so many have to resort to Prozac to deal with the stress. The stress should be handled by counseling. Teachers are so busy just covering the syllabus that they could not be expected to deal with this situation. I believe health professionals should visit all schools and all examination age students should have access to their confidential advice on how to cope with stress, commented Mr Gardiner.

I am seriously worried about the way society treats young people. Between examination stress and binge drinking, it is time we as a society sorted out the problems the young face, said Mr Gardiner.