As the new academic year begins, a local NGO is urging schools, teachers and parents to pay closer attention to students’ emotions.

A recent survey by Po Leung Kuk of nearly 1,000 junior secondary students found that more than one-third of respondents said they felt negative before the new school year, roiled by emotions such as nervousness, worry, frustration, irritability, or a sense of failure.

Students said they felt most stressed about exams, test results and report cards.

Yet more than half said they usually keep these feelings to themselves rather than share them with others.

Lee Tak-wai, manager of Po Leung Kuk’s Youth Services, said schools, teachers and parents should be proactive in supporting students, especially in the early weeks of the term when they are still adjusting.

The findings also showed that students who were more willing to talk about their negative emotions reported lower overall stress levels at school.

Lee suggested that students could care for one another through peer support, while parents might join their children in relaxing activities to ease pressure.

He added that teachers and social workers could also check in with students to help identify and address emotional issues early on.