ith SSLC examination results scheduled to be declared on Monday, it is that time again when students are a bundle of nerves, wondering how well they fared, parental expectation adding to the pressure.
While some tension is natural, a number of students succumb to the anxiety, which manifests itself in health problems too.
Disha (Direct Intervention System for Health Awareness), a 24-hour helpline of the Department of Health and the National Health Mission that is available on the toll-free number 1056, has counsellors at hand to help students combat stress.
A counsellor at Disha said there was a 30 per cent increase in students seeking help in recent days. Most children were afraid that they would be scolded by parents if they did not do well in the exams. “We tell them what to do to face stress — meditation, breathing exercise, and engage the mind in other activities.”
While students do not complain of being compelled by parents, expectations weigh heavily on them. “There is much pressure on them to take up the science stream to become engineers or doctors. Everything is entrance exam-oriented. Parents do not want to explore other opportunities for their children,” the counsellor said.
The intense competition does not help.
“As students are not aware about other career choices, we do career counselling. We try and find out their aptitude and guide them to suitable careers,” the counsellor said.
The city-based Santhi helpline too is helping students deal with mental stress.
A helpline counsellor said the grading system for SSLC had helped reduce the stress experienced by students, yet they were under pressure owing to parents’ expectations. Students might have done well, but they worried if all did not go according to plan or the parents’ health suffered. “Children who expect A + grade in all subjects feel disappointed when they don’t do that well.”
The counsellor said students whose grades were not up to mark were at times not able to evaluate immediately where they stood, and this helped in a way. The helpline would be open for all exam-related issues in days to come.
From Monday, Santhi helpline will be available from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on the number 0471 2713100.
Disha toll-free number 1056
Santhi helpline 0471 2713100
