Ranchi: Introspection, they say, is the first step in healing. And, psychologists are advising students and parents to delve deeper within to analyse the cause, instead of getting worked up over the effect, in the run-up to the ICSE and ISC results on Monday.
As many as 11,201 students, including 3,840 in Ranchi and 3,000 in Jamshedpur, appeared for their Class X boards from 103 schools this year while around 4,575 students, including 800 from the capital and 2,200 from the steel city took their Class XII boards. The results will be available on official website of the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations from 3pm.
"Both success and failure are part of life. If children are not satisfied with their performance, they should probe why instead of feeling bad about it. They can introspect how much time they spent studying or if their concentration level was right before the exam. Self-assessment is the best way to beat depression and overcome shortcomings, if any," said Jayanti Simlai, the head of psychiatry at Ranchi Institute of Neuropsychiatry and Allied Sciences (Rinpas) in Kanke.
On the role of parents and teachers once results are declared, Simlai said they can't afford to be anything less than encouraging.
"Teachers and parents are expected to help students improve. They cannot be reproving if their ward has not scored well in one exam. They must introspect what went wrong and how the same can be fixed," Simlai said, adding that instead of always blaming the system, one must learn to accept one's own responsibilities.
Director of Davis Institute of Psychiatry Hazel Davis said parents needed as much counselling as students.
"We have often seen that parents try to impose on children their own unfulfilled dreams. Such expectations are misplaced. Every individual is born different; has his or her own set of aspirations. Parents should strive to inspire instead of forcing their children into doing something," Davis said.
Sanjay Agarwal, head of psychiatry at Tata Main Hospital in Jamshedpur, said "pressure" was the "killer", indicating why many students committed suicide over exam results.
"Making children think that their life is at stake is not the way to handle exam outcomes. Parents must not put any unwarranted pressure on children. They must themselves counsel kids and tell them in person that it is okay not to score well in one exam. There will be more chances to improve," he said.
Noted Ranchi child psychologist Neena Agrawal insisted on a culture to calm nerves in the face of adversities.
"One examination is not the end of it all. There is always a next time. One result does not decide anyone's future. Students should not be disheartened if scores do not meet their expectations. Likewise, parents should not behave in a threatening manner. They should never ever draw comparisons with others. Negative criticism is the worst way to treat children, parents must understand that," summed up Agrawal.
Additional reporting by Antara Bose in Jamshedpur
