Helpline to be launched Sunday ahead of CBSE results

To help students and parents cope with anxiety and stress before and after the CBSE results, a free, confidential helpline will be launched here Sunday that also promises to provide career guidance to the students.

Available between from May 26 to June 2 between 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., 'Hopeline' -- 011- 65978181 has been launched by NGO Snehi. Students can also seek help online and the by sending their queries on hopeline98@gmail.com.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will declare the results of Class 12 Monday.

"In India, the significance attached to one's performance in exams is enormous. Students are under a lot of stress giving rise to anxieties and psychological problems," said Snehi's director Abdul Mabood, adding that the counselling services were "confidential and free".

"The telephonic counselling is an effective preventive measure towards suicide prevention, mental disorders and promotion of positive mental health," he added.

According to Snehi, since 1998, it has helped over 50,000 students of class 12 and 10 along with 7,455 parents. In addition, close to 25,000 students from class fifth to post graduates have also been counseled.

"We have helped 347 students, who were suicidal," said Mabood.

In 2012, it got over 2,500 calls of which around 78 percent were from class 10 and 12 students. Over 300 parents called in for help as well.