Chennai: Around 6,000 calls were received by 104 helpline between 8 am and 2 pm on May 7, the day the state board plus-two results were declared. Of this, nearly 70 per cent were male callers with most students calling in from Madurai. On the day they also received 50-60 calls from students who wished to attempt suicide. According to T. Rajaram, who heads the team of 104 helpline, of the 6,000 callers, 67 per cent were boys and the rest, girls. “On that day, we received all calls related to plus-two results alone. There were no health-related calls. Students called along with their parents, seeking help,” he said.
On May 7, 64 per cent calls were from the age group of 15 to 30. The rest were from parents. From May 5 onwards, they started receiving calls from students and parents. On May 5 and May 6 taken together, they got 340 calls about plus-two results. Of these, 70 per cent were male callers and 30 per cent, female. After May 7, on May 8 and May 9, the number of calls from students went down. On May 8, they received 700 calls while on May 9, it was 300 calls.
Prabhudas, director of GVK EMRI (Emergency Management Research Institute), said most calls came from Madurai and Tiruchy. About 5.78 per cent calls came from Madurai, followed by Chennai, with 5.64 per cent calls, then Kancheepuram with 4.70 per cent calls, Coimbatore, 4.53 per cent calls, Villupuram, 4.10 per cent calls and Tiruvallur, 3.63 per cent calls. Psychiatrist, Dr L. Suresh, said they received calls from students who got low marks and those who had failed. He said, “We tried to motivate the failed students by citing the examples of Thomas Alva Edison and Abraham Lincoln who also failed in exams, yet achieved much in life. This helped the students.” He also advised the students with low marks to take easier subjects and improve their skills.
“They have sleeping difficulties and don’t talk to any one. We try to convince them saying that this is a temporary loss. Students have to accept the reality, be it low marks or failure. They have to find out the reason for it. Only then can we help them.” He also suggested that the study room be bright and students study regularly for two to three hours a day. Students should sleep for at least seven hours. Whatever they study should be revised the next day. While studying, one should understand and memorise. Every student should follow a time table, he said.
