This month, 104 health helplines were set up after three students committed suicide in three days. While one student took the extreme step on the day of NEET, two others took their own life after the exam. Subsequently, the health department set up a helpline through which the counselors would reach out to all the 1,10,971 candidates in Tamil Nadu who took the NEET-UG exam.

Tamil Nadu has appointed 60 psychologists and 25 psychiatrists to provide counseling to these students. A psychologist associated with the 104 health helpline said, “A large number of students taking NEET were found stressed and out of this, we found that the most stressed students were those who gave the repeaters test. Repeaters usually skip their regular classes and take the exam. They dedicate whole year for their preparation and hence they will be under a lot of stress after appearing in the exam." The counselor said that 200 students have been categorized as 'high risk' and are in regular touch with them.

Dr Saravanan, head of the 104 health helpline, said all the students would be contacted again and the calls would continue till the test results were out. Most of such students will be the first time graduates of their family and they experience more stress. He said that the details of these students are provided to the district administration where they live and the officials will visit the homes of these students. The counselor at 104 said that most students who are under stress want someone to listen to them. Another psychologist said, “We are assuring them that we are there to listen to them and will solve their problems.”

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