Exam season brings about a wave of anxiety amongst students. While some children leap these hurdles with ease, a host of others become conscious about grades, performances, peer pressure and parental expectations. Addressing their apprehensions and confidence issues will keep their mental health in check as well. Balancing minds and marks will need a strong support system to address student stress.
Counselling for Exam Stress
Stress levels among students have increased over the years and mental health challenges faced by students during exams are enormous. The main reason for this is the growing competition, which is caused by limited resources. There are more students than available opportunities or seats, leading to a higher level of competition. With higher competition, the fear of failure becomes greater. To reduce this stress, we need to increase the availability of resources, such as more opportunities and support systems for students, so that they don’t feel overwhelmed by competition.
Teachers can identify students who need counselling by observing signs such as poor academic performance, social withdrawal, or unusual anxiety. For shy or introverted students, creating a safe, non-judgmental environment is key. We must remind students that not everyone can be at the top, and it’s okay to be average. It’s a part of their personal journey—some students are ahead, and some are behind. Failure doesn’t define them. By building trust and offering support, educators and parents can make it easier for students to open up and seek help.
Peer Pressure and Social Media Influence
During exam season, students typically face fear of failure, time management problems, and a lack of self-confidence. Recently, an emerging issue is the increasing pressure students feel, especially from family or social media, which often leads to feelings of rejection. Some students try to build new identities for themselves in response to these pressures, sometimes engaging in actions that are disapproved of by their parents. This can lead to family conflicts. Social media distractions further amplify these issues, making it harder for students to focus on their studies.
Supporting Neurodivergent Students
For neurodivergent students or those facing socio-economic challenges, schools and parents work together to provide the necessary support. Sometimes, expert help from counselors or external professionals is needed to address the unique challenges these students face. Parental pressure can be overwhelming, so it’s essential to educate parents about the importance of emotional well-being and academic balance. By working collaboratively, schools and parents can help students manage both academic pressure and emotional stress effectively.
Technology for the Help
Technology can be both a solution and a problem. On the one hand, it can make learning easier for students who are struggling with stress or fear, as digital tools can offer alternative learning methods. However, it also has the potential to cause distractions. Students may get caught up in online content or social media, which could reduce their focus on studies. While technology can help students learn more efficiently, it’s essential to balance its use to prevent it from becoming a source of distraction.
Building a Counselling Community
While counselling is one of the most effective ways to help stressed students, it is not always enough. Teachers should also be trained in basic counselling skills so they can identify early signs of stress and help students cope. Since not all problems can be handled by one counsellor or teacher, it is important to prepare the entire school staff to recognize and address student stress. This way, bigger issues can be escalated to the appropriate professionals, ensuring a more comprehensive support system for students.
Conclusion
Counselling has proven to be very effective for many students. Often, a student who may seem careless or difficult has underlying issues that, when addressed through counselling, reveal the real cause of their behaviour. Counselling helps identify these problems and provides a safe space for students to talk about them. As a result, many students who were once struggling have improved, both academically and emotionally. Counselling helps students feel supported, which can make a significant difference in their overall performance and mental health.
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