AS matric results are released across the country, many homes are filled with celebrations.
But for thousands of South African teenagers, this period is marked not by joy, but by quiet anguish, fear, and deep disappointment.
Mental health organisations warn that the pressure surrounding matric results places an enormous emotional burden on young people.
Each year, thousands of teenagers experience severe anxiety and depression during this time, with many struggling silently as they try to make sense of outcomes that feel final and defining.
While top achievers are applauded, far less attention is given to pupils whose results fall short of expectations, often despite their effort, resilience, and challenging circumstances. For these young people, results day can feel like a public verdict on their worth.
South African psychologist, author, and public commentator Dr Onke Mazibuko said the matric results season has become one of the most emotionally fragile periods in a young person's life.
"Matric results compress years of pressure, sacrifice, and expectation into a single moment.
"For adolescents who are still discovering who they are, disappointing results are often experienced as a personal failure, not just an academic outcome," he said.
Dr Mazibuko, whose work focuses on adolescent development and emotional well-being, warns that harsh reactions from families, schools, peers, and even social media can deepen feelings of shame and hopelessness.
"The greatest danger lies not only in the results, but in how we respond to them.
"When young people feel judged or compared, they retreat into silence. That's when emotional pain grows."
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He urged parents, caregivers, and teachers to lead with empathy, to listen without blame, to separate results from self-worth, and to remind pupils that life offers many second chances and alternative paths to success.
Dr Mazibuko also calls on communities and the media to report on matric results with care, balancing celebrations with compassion and awareness of the emotional impact such narratives can have.
"Compassion does not lower standards. It builds resilience. The way we respond now can either deepen a young person's pain or help them rediscover hope," he added.
