Shortly after the Class XII State Board examination results were published on Friday, the Health Department launched its counselling services through TeleMANAS call centre at 14416 and the State Health helpline 104.

It will be reaching out to nearly 37,000 students who did not pass the board examination with counselling, and if essential, appropriate intervention.

In the last few years, the State government has been extending counselling assistance to students who fail the Class X and XII board examinations as well as the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test aspirants.

A total of 56 persons, including 30 counsellors, are working on a shift basis for the TeleMANAS call centre. The counsellors will call the students — about 6,000 calls per day — for at least the next six days.

If any of them is found to be at high risk, the call would be escalated to the clinical psychologist for further evaluation and, if needed, further intervention. Otherwise, they would be counselled, officials said. If it is an emergency, they would be referred to the District Mental Health Programme team, they added.

Doctors stressed the importance of family support for students who did not pass the board examination. “They will experience a sense of distress. This is not the time for the family to criticise them. It is important for the family to validate their emotions. If there are persistent symptoms such as inability to sleep or eat, or if a student is withdrawn from the family, he/she needs intervention. Those with suicidal tendencies definitely need immediate intervention,” an official said.

(Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the State’s health helpline 104, TeleMANAS 14416 and Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline - 044 - 24640050)