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Helplines in Mumbai gear up for exam stress

Experts operating helplines to aid children in dealing with stress say that ‘exam fever’ will start to take over students’ lives next month onwards, with nearly 50% calls from those contemplating suicide.

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Experts operating helplines to aid children in dealing with  stress say that ‘exam fever’ will start to take over students’ lives next month onwards, with nearly 50% calls from those contemplating suicide.

Johnson Thomas, director of Aasra helpline, said that most calls are from people who have not finished studying the portion. As many as 50% of them will contemplate suicide, he said.

“We do not offer advice but try to get the caller to talk about his problems and release his tension. We also encourage him or her to think logically about the situation,” said Thomas.

Once the exam season is over, the calls are about exam results and the callers’ inability to come to terms with them. “It is basically about expectations, either their own or their parents’, and how they are not able to live up to them,” he said.

Ramesh Joshi, a volunteer for a helpline called Samaritan, said: “We hear the callers out and tell them that they could seek professional help from us.”

Dr Harish Shetty, a psychiatrist associated with helpline 24x7, said: “Having an anonymous entity on the other side of the line really helps. Besides, the callers don’t have to fear anyone or anything when they make this one-time call.” The helpline has trained psychologists who counsel students.

Some psychiatrists, however, feel that helplines may not be the best way to help children. “I am not sure if many children will act on information about helplines and make phone calls to them. I also have doubts about how expressive a child will be on the phone. How many people are equipped to support them effectively?” wondered Dr Shubhangi Parkar, head of psychiatry, KEM Hospital.
She added that the best support a child can find is in the trust of parents and teachers.

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