It’s exam season again, a time when children are faced with extreme pressure to prove their worth through the end of year examinations.
This period started in October when the Grade 12s commenced their matric examinations with the other grades to follow until November. “They all are feeling the pressure as all eyes from their friends, teachers, parents, families and their communities, who wait in anticipation, as they prepare to sit down for the exams.”
This is according to South African Depression and Anxiety Group (Sadag) which in a statement, said they are contacted by learners from primary level to university students who feel the pressure during the exam season. “They call in feeling overwhelmed, anxious and stressed, with some having had panic attacks before a big exam.
“We receive calls in the early hours of the morning with students who are trying to cram before their big paper, they are overwhelmed and feel like they are going to forget everything they have learnt and fail,” said Vanishaa Gordhan, the group’s call centre manager.
She said the children are under a lot of pressure to succeed, and with all eyes on them, the pressure grew each year.
Also, parents get stressed. “They don’t always know how to help their children cope which adds extra strain to their children.”
Sadag has the following tools and tips to help both students and parents cope with this pressured season.
- A free online #FacebookFriday Q&A session with educational psychologists on exam-related stress, anxiety, study methods and coping
- Facebook and Twitter pages #SADAGExams101 with daily tips on what to do to cope with stress on exam day
- Advise them to use past papers available online, watch exam preparation videos and read helpful mind maps to understand certain study concepts.
The group urges those who feel isolated and alone at this time to contact them on 0800 21 22 23 or SMS 31393 for free telephone counselling which is available from 8am to 8pm, every weekday.
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https://northeasterntribune.co.za/226226/sadag-desperate-need-volunteers-suicide-call-centre/
