Chennai's 10,000 students call helplines

Chennai: The recent suicide of a daughter and mother in Chennai have again brought into focus the examination system and the stress the students are put through. Though suicides in Chennai came down marginally last year, the city has managed to retain its position as  ‘suicide capital’ for over three years.

This year, following stress faced by school students due to Chennai floods and loss of books, student counsellors were worried. With tougher exam papers being reported this March, counsellors fear a rise in suicides once results are out this May.

As a prelude, sources with 104 and Sneha suicide helpline confirm that students calling for counselling has recorded a rise till March. This year alone, the state run health helpline 104 received about 10,000 calls from distressed students in need of exam-related counselling and many of them were suicidal. The 104 Helpline is one among many others, including Sneha, that has been catering to needs of students in distress and in need of help.  Are exams  stressful? DC speaks with students and parents, teachers, psychologists and educationists.
Pavan Sipani, a Class X student, feels that to some extent if parents are pushing to study, it is good. But if they are pushing too much, then it becomes difficult for a child. “It is parents who want us to get good marks. Not like we won’t get it. But they give options that we have to achieve a certain number of marks. Like 450 out of 500 or 480 out of 500. Before examination, they will confiscate our mobile phones and not give it back unless we achieve the target marks,”  he said.  

Another student Andrew Josh said his parents never pressurise him, but he knows some parents who do that. He said, “I love studying. So maybe my parents never pressurised me. But I find it silly if a Class X student commits suicide for studies because the syllabus is not tough. But some parents do force their children to get certain marks,” he said. S. Suresh, a parent, feels that parents have to bring up their children in such a manner there should be a balance and which should not force them to take a drastic step.  “How the parent communicate with children matters a lot? The children also go through peer pressure and the competition existing make them take such action. Bot parents and teachers should make them understand that it is not about getting marks. It again depends on socio-economic background of the family,” he said. He added that these days children also don’t want to listen to their parents, therefore, they should explain them and strike a balance.

Selvakumar, principal of Sethu Bhaskara Matricu lation Higher Secondary School, said students are sensitive. “The children are very sensitive these days to understand that if parents are scolding it is for their good. Instead, they commit suicide. But parents also pressurise them to get centum. So this leads to suicide by students,” he said. He added that parents should stop pressurising their children. Another parent K. Sarala said parents should know the problems of their child.

“Parents should understand the psychology of students. Children who are weak minded if they start exercising, practice yoga and meditation, they can handle  stress. All schools should include these activities before examination,” she said.
 She added that parents need not force their children to go in for engineering or medicine as nowadays there are many options open for earning money. Further, K. John, headmaster, Thiru.Vi. Ka government school, Shenoy Nagar,  said in his school, counselling sessions are given just before examination. For such kind of students who have the tendency to attempt suicide, moral values should be imparted and they should also do yoga. “In our school,  we have yoga classes for all students every day,” he said.

Student suicides have fallen due to number of tele-counselling centres in the city. “This year, following stress faced by school students due to heavy rains and loss of books, we were flooded with calls from students and their parents,” said Prabhudoss B. had, marketing and hospital relations, GVK EMRI, which operates 104 helpline.

Statistics show that annually 1,00,000 people commit suicide in India stressing the need for more tele-counselling centres. “With students complaining of tough exam papers this year, we need to be on our toes to ensure that no child takes his or her life following the results,” said psychologist Meera Kumari. Anna University recently directed all affiliated engineering colleges to set up student counselling centres with a trained psychologist in their campuses. There is a need for such counselling centres in high and higher secondary schools as well.
“In our society, going to a counselling centre and meeting a counsellor is considered a taboo. Helplines are therefore very essential in case an individual does not wish to meet the counselor face to face,” said Vinny George, counselor, Montfort College of Psychology.

“Chennai saw a fall in the number of student suicides last year (15), as compared to 10 years ago (48),” said Lakshmi Vijayakumar, founder of SNEHA, a suicide prevention centre. However, it is seen that efforts have to be taken to ensure that students and parents are prepared to handle the results.
“We had planned out three rounds of counselling this year to be held all over Tamil Nadu. We held a preparatory counselling session before exams and one during  exams,” said P.Vijay Kumar, State head of operations. “We are yet to hold the final session to prepare students on handling results with confidence,” he added.

Director of Government Examinations D.Vasundradevi feels that parents and teachers are putting undue pressure on students. “They should not torture them to score marks. I think if they let free the students they will write their exams stress-free and score good marks,” she said. “Students have to study their lessons regularly. If they do they can reduce the stress during the exam times. Their aim should not be only scoring marks in the exams; they should also aim to gain the knowledge,” she added.

She also pointed out various efforts by the department of government examinations like giving extra 15 minutes to read the question paper and giving  details of candidates in the answer sheets in the printed format. A teacher pointed out that if the question paper was tough then the examination department also adopted a liberal approach in valuation and give grace marks to  students.