With the public examinations for Classes 10 and 12 a few months away, District Childline has initiated group counselling sessions and awareness programmes in corporation, government and aided schools in the city.
Jim Jesudoss, Director, Childline Madurai, said they would have interactive sessions and activities for confidence building with students by counsellors and resource persons from the Childline.
“We will hand out a questionnaire to gauge their stress levels and time management practices. Based on the response, we will host group counselling sessions for students in batches,” he explained. Stating that there had been distress calls before and after examinations to the Childline number 1098, Mr Jesudoss further said the sessions were aimed at preparing the students to face examinations with confidence and preventing suicides, in a few cases.
Angel Jasmine, a counsellor, said there were increasing instances of parents approaching the Childline for counselling their children ahead of the examinations.
“Many parents say that their children have memory problems and are not able to retain what they study due to which they score low marks. We will offer tips and techniques to overcome fear. If the child is stressed, feels pressurised and has suicidal tendency, we will counsel it further,” she said.
