Mental Health Experts Sound Alarm Over Exam Result Stress After Student Suicide

Mental Health Experts Sound Alarm Over Exam Result Stress After Student Suicide

By Sakib Jkbose

Srinagar, May 1:
As Class 10th and 12th board exam results were announced in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, mental health professionals expressed grave concern over the growing psychological pressure students face during this period. According to psychiatrists, the emotional highs and lows driven by societal and familial expectations are creating an unhealthy atmosphere that threatens the mental well-being of an entire generation.

In a tragic incident underscoring the consequences of this pressure, a Class 12 student took her own life after receiving results that didn’t meet her or her family’s expectations. The loss has left her loved ones in unimaginable grief, highlighting once again that no academic outcome is worth more than a human life.

Despite the fact that board exam scores neither guarantee a career nor secure future opportunities, the societal focus on these results remains intense. Psychiatrists warn that the pressure surrounding them continues to be a leading cause of stress, anxiety, and even self-harm among students.

Dr. Arshid Hussain, a renowned psychiatrist and professor at GMC Srinagar, believes the emphasis placed on board results is excessive. “If you ask successful professionals today, most won’t even remember what they scored in their 10th or 12th exams,” he said. “Life doesn’t begin or end with these results. It’s a continuous journey filled with opportunities.”

He called on parents to ease the pressure on their children and resist the societal obsession with academic performance. “Your child’s marks should not be a reason for either pride or shame. Stop letting social norms dictate how you react to exam results. The child is yours—treat them with love, not judgment,” Dr. Hussain urged.

Experts agree that it’s time for a cultural shift that values student well-being above exam performance. Academic scores may measure knowledge in a moment, but they should never define a person’s worth—or their future.