New Delhi: As a new initiative, Max Healthcare Hospital, one of the renowned hospital chains in the country, is all set to launch a special student helpline from February 20, 2013.This specialized helpline is being setup to provide psychological support and telephonic counselling to check pre-exam stress, experienced by students appearing in the board examinations.
As per the official statement issued by the hospital, the helpline will be active from February 20 till the end of the month. It further informed that, this pre-exam helpline can be availed by dialing the ‘phone number- 98118-96286’, from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm. The helpline would not only help students to deal with exam-related issues, but also provide telephonic counseling to students in distress.
Before and during the exam period, especially, in the board exam scenario, students suffer from various typical health as well as psychological issues like lack of concentration, loss of appetite, headache, restlessness, lack of confidence and extreme depression. Explaining more about the same, Sameer Malhotra, Head of Department (HoD), Mental Health and Behavioural Sciences, Max Healthcare, said that exam stress is a very rampant and concerning issue.
He also informed that this stress can lead to numerous problems, by triggering various neurochemicals that can in turn cause imbalances in hormones and immune system. Besides, these biological and psychological issues, comparisons, parental expectations and peer pressure, are also some of the major issues students deal with, while attempting their board exams.
During exam preparation, students are anxious, stressed and weighed down by expectations, therefore, it is very important for both students and their parents, to identify the signs and symptoms of distress and manage them appropriately, timely and effectively, Malhotra clarified.
The annual board exams by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) for Class 12 and 10 are scheduled to commence March 1. The examination for class 10 will end on March 15, whereas, exam for Class 12 will conclude on April 17. CBSE is responsible for education regulations in many states as well as for Indian schools in various foreign countries.
