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New Delhi, Feb 17 (IANS) A helpline will start from Feb 20 for students appearing in their board exams to provide psychological support and telephonic counselling to check pre-exam stress, a hospital here said Sunday. "A pre-exam helpline to help students deal with all these exam-related issues, (the phone number) 98118-96286 will be open from Wednesday by Max Healthcare Hospital from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. addressing the concerns and queries of students on dealing with exam related pressures," a hospital statement said. "Students in distress will be helped through telephonic counselling," it said. The helpline will be active from Feb 20 till the end of the month. Students face host of issues like lack of concentration, loss of appetite, headache, restlessness, lack of confidence and extreme depression during the exam period. "Exam stress is a very sensitive and concerning issue. Stress can predispose to problems of the mind and body as they are closely interlinked by neurochemicals, hormones and immune system," Sameer Malhotra, head of department, mental health and behavioural sciences, Max Healthcare, said. "Comparisons, parental expectations and peer pressure are major concerns for students attempting their board exams," Malhotra said. "Many students are anxious, stressed and weighed down by expectations. It is quite important for both students and their parents to timely recognise the signs and symptoms of distress and manage them appropriately, timely and effectively," Malhotra added. The annual exams by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) for Classes 12 and 10 will start March 1. For Class 12, the exams will end April 17, and for Class 10 by March 15.
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