Inter Students Keep Tele Manas’ Phones Busy

Hyderabad: With the Intermediate results set to be announced on Tuesday, Tele Manas, a 24/7 mental health helpline, is receiving calls from students dealing with exam performance stress and anxiety about their future.

Students can connect with Tele Manas through the toll-free number 14416.

From the completion of the exams on March 25 to April 20, they received 93 calls from students. These included calls related to stress (24), anxiety (16), sleeplessness (11), and revaluation and other inquiries (42).

Counsellors advised students to stay emotionally strong, emphasising that exams come every year and that the purpose of exams is to enable progress in life. Whatever the result may be, it is never final. By improving their presentation skills, students can enhance their performance. Performance should not be viewed as permanent.

"Parents should not pressure students or constantly ask about their marks, nor should they compare their child's results with others'," said P. Jawaharlal Nehru, a psychologist at Tele Manas.

"They should offer emotional support and be present for their child. For instance, when a student scores 85 out of 100, he or she would look at it as a failure to not reaching 90. It’s difficult to predict how a young mind will respond to such pressure. We’ve received many calls related to career options and stress about scores. Intermediate is a turning point, not an end point in life. Students should focus on what comes next and how to approach it."

"There are many career avenues. Students need to concentrate on developing their skills and communication abilities," he added.

The counsellors encouraged students to make use of the Tele Manas service, assuring them that it is available 24 hours a day. Students can call without hesitation, and their identity will remain confidential.

“It’s a crucial period for us, and we are seeing an increase in the number of calls. Some students have reported feeling anxious about the results and asked what they can do to manage it. I advised them that they will receive marks in accordance with their performance and urged them not to get caught up in the rat race for marks,” said psychiatrist Shrishanthi.

A student who had been experiencing anxiety about the exam centre called back to say that she followed the tips given by us, which helped her perform well without fear. Acceptance is important. Students must be encouraged to do better, but not to compare themselves with others. "They can call us anytime – even anonymously – and share their problems," said Deedepiya Sarojini, a counsellor.