Failing in examinations, has led to an alarming increase in the number of stressed young students knocking the doors of mental health experts, opting for antidepressant drugs, suffering from sleep or eating disorders or even indulging in self harming behaviour.
However, experts maintain that family and friends can play a pivotal role in providing appropriate help to those failing to cope with losing self-confidence, self-esteem and stress related disorders.
Emphasising on the role of family members, Dr B N Gangadhar, professor, department of Psychiatry, NIMHANS says that family members, relatives and friends play a indispensable role in providing moral support to those suffering from post exams depression.
‘’Often many children worry that poor exam results mean they are letting their parents down, or they won’t be able to do what they want in the future. However, the family members can help the children in understanding that there are multiple options available for him and it was not the only exam in his life. They can make them understand that if they could not get the seat in one profession, other professions are also equally respectable. Besides, parents should not compare other students with their children.
Experts also believe that career counsellors can also help the students in coping with the post exams stress. Expressing sadness over the higher rate of severely depressed young children, Dr Roshan R Jain, senior consultant psychiatry, Apollo Hospital says, stress is good to some extent but relentless stress causes problem. ''Of the total consultancy, nearly 15 per cent of the cases are young children who could not perform as per their expectations in the examination. Besides, internal pressure, there is a lot of pressure from the family which leads to a depressed state of mind."
Suggesting the measures, experts maintain that family members must ensure that children take part in other activities rather than confining themselves to four walls. Parents should break the monotonous routines and take a break for some holiday to rejuvenate.