It is the middle of February and with year-end examinations not far away, exam stress is at its peak for many students.
Students, and their parents, often find themselves at sea when it comes to coping with exam pressure. Some suffer silently as anxiety reaches levels that have a debilitating effect.
The stress may manifest itself as physical or psychological reactions. It may even lead to depression and suicidal thoughts.
Besides psychologists and psychiatrists, helplines also help students to come out of their nervousness and perform better in examinations.
We Help
Azeem C.M., State coordinator, Career Guidance and Adolescent Counselling, Directorate of Higher Secondary Education, said their tele-helpline, We Help, would become active on March 1.
The toll-free helpline would be operational from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. It would be manned by eight Souhrida Club coordinators trained at the CDS or NIMHANS.
Souhrida Clubs
Counselling is also provided in schools through the 1,240 Souhrida Clubs. Mr. Azeem said that in the years before, the number of calls received at the helpline peaked just before the start of the exams, the first day, or when certain papers were tough.
Students of class 10 and those in CBSE schools also contacted the helpline, as also those from other States on seeing the news online.
The National Health Mission’s round-the-clock Disha health helpline (ph: 1056 for BSNL, Idea, and Reliance users; 0471-2552056 for others) also provides counselling to students in dealing with exam anxiety.
Parents too seek help
Gopika N. Nair, who is the call centre in-charge, says parents too call up the helpline.
Though the helpline is available right through the year, the number of calls has been going up since the start of 2017.
“Of the 2,000-odd calls we received in the past two months, nearly half are related to exam stress,” she says.
Counsellors give the students tips on how to not get tense, how to improve their concentration, and eat a balanced diet.
Parents are also counselled on how not to put too much pressure on the children and how to handle anxiety about underperforming wards.
The Central Board of Secondary Education too is providing pre-exam psychological counselling for students and parents.
The counselling, available on the toll-free number 1800 11 8004, will be available from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. till April 29. Students can also visit the CBSE website www.cbse.nic.in and click on the link helpline for advice.
