Hyderabad: Most junior colleges either do not have certified counsellors, of whom there is dearth, to help students overcome mental health issues. This critical aspect gets pronounced when exams are round the corner as many students have trouble dealing with exam-related stress and anxiety.Although some colleges conduct motivational sessions, counsellors and professionals of mental health state that such sessions only work as temporary confidence-boosters. They opine that counselling sessions should be a continuous process and run through until exams are done with.It has been noticed that stress levels are particularly high among students from private and corporate junior colleges, which subject them to long hours in the classroom and give them as many hours of homework.As a means to help students grappling with exam-related stress, the Telangana BIE introduced an exclusive ‘Tele Manas’ helpline in 2022. It offers 24×7 tele-counselling through toll free numbers 14416 and 1800-914416, free of cost.Two psychiatrists, a psychologist and 16 counsellors are dedicated to this unique facility. Dr Sumana, a psychiatrist helping out with Tele Manas, said “From December to March the maximum calls that we receive are from intermediate students, with most of them undergoing bouts of exam stress and question paper-related anxieties.”On how they go about the sessions, she said, “We first listen to their worries, try to understand their previous performance and guide them to study according to their abilities. We also suggest relaxation techniques. The calls can last between 30 and 60 minutes, depending on the issue and the mindset of the caller. As thorough professionals, we also follow up with students and their guardians to track their progress,” Dr Sumana said.Stress is largely caused by parental and societal pressure. Students need care and support from their elders,” observed psychologist P. Jawaharlal Nehru. He suggested a structured approach from the beginning of the academic year to reduce stress.Counsellor T. Gnaneshwar, noted, “Long-term stress can worsen matters as students tend to lose interest in studies. We help them identify their strengths and explain that intermediate exams alone do not define their future.”ost calls come in the morning and evening. Even parents seek guidance to help their children.“The most common issues stem from sleep disturbances, exam stress and suicidal tendencies. In serious cases, we transfer the calls to psychologists or psychiatrists as they can handle the issue more deftly,” counsellor N. Vijayashekar said.
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