Helpline for students appearing for boards
Snehi, a leading NGO engaged in pre-exam counseling has started Disha 2012 from 31st January. The initiative is taken for students in distress who are appearing for the Board exam in March this year. Members of the NGO told Hindustan Times that the helpline will be operated by a team of trained counselors and mental health professionals. The helpline will be functional till 3rd March.
In an HT report, Abdul Mabood, director of the NGO said that these professionals will help students in distress through telephonic and face-to-face counseling under the supervision of our senior professionals. Disha has been operating since 1999 and this is the 14th year. Till date, the helpline has reached out to 19,394 students and 3,159 parents, added Mabood.
Every year, apart from many calls from students enquiring for exams related information, Snehi attends to few hundred calls from students, parents, teachers and relatives of students who share anxiety, confusion and stress. According to Mabood, Snehi has also helped 230 suicidal cases in the past years during the pre-exam helpline. (Read more...)
Last year, Disha received 1,582 calls related to exam stress and few calls from suicidal students. Fr Bento Rodrigues, chairperson of Snehi shared that the board exams play a very crucial role in a student's life, especially in the Indian context. He feels that this is a factor why students suffer from a lot of social pressure to perform.
Majority of the students seeking help at Snehi are from Class 10, 11 and 12. Sometimes, students of Class 4 and postgraduate courses also call up to seek help.
Other interesting reads:
- Expect more teachers in 2012
- Class X and Class XII Board Exams to start in February and March!
