Free counselling for exam anxiety, by experts is on your finger tips. The new web portal being launched by the Kerala State branch of Indian Psychiatric Society (IPS), www.manasikarogyam.com provides you with a whole lot of material on exam anxiety, how to overcome it, tips for students among other things.
According to Varghese Punnoose, general secretary, IPS and one of the editors-in-chief of the portal, a team of experts have been readied to respond to questions on exam anxiety and exam preparation. “You can expect answers for your questions within 24 hours,” Dr Punnoose said.
According to him, the portal is yet to be launched formally, but construction is almost over. “In view of the demand from the students who appear for the Class X and Plus Two examinations, and their parents, we have already commenced functioning,” he said. Uploaded in the portal are articles on tips to make the exam season tension free, tips to overcome stress, anxiety disorders among the adolescent, mental health in children, and children and TV among other things.
According to Dr Punnoose a team of professionals under the leadership of executive editor and web master Shahul Ameen, consultant psychiatrist at St Thomas Hospital Chethipuzha near Changanassery will respond to the questions from students and parents during the examination period at the site’s discussion forum. The formal launching of the portal will be on April 28, he said. However, counselling services for students would be available now onwards, he said.
The portal when fully operational would focus on suicide prevention, geriatric care, addiction, and depression.
The portal currently features articles and videos in Malayalam, and a directory of mental health services available in the State. It also includes a question-answer section where experts would respond to mental health related issues for free. “In the near future, the site would have options for public to take various self administered screening tests to detect presence of psychological problems like depression” Dr Punnoose said.
