In its latest survey, The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) included for the first time the age group `below 16' in its records on suicides. The New Delhi Television (NDTV) in a story on suicides last year noted that 800 young students had committed suicide during the year. One of the important reasons behind these suicides: inability to handle exam-linked situations.But Dr Anjali Chhabria, a school counsellor practising for ten years now, said Mumbai appears not to have alerted itself to this problem at all. About the insensitivity of schools towards its students, especially the emotionally vulnerable ones, DrChabbria said: ``Attention is needed for two types of students: those who fail and those who don't fare as well as they expect to. But schools are so engrossed in their successful students that they do not bother to even look at the emotionally vulnerable ones. I am yet to hear of a school that is preparing to deal with the latter type of students. It is high time senior teachers stay around to listen to parents of students and spend time with anxious children.''

Parents should also refrain from making unsavoury comments if their child's result is disappointing, she said, adding that the father and mother should take care not to fight among themselves on the issue.

Dr Amresh Shrivastav of Prerna said: ``Twelve per cent of the 900 persons who attended my clinic in the last two years were aged between 14 and 20. NCRB statistics have also shown that 11 per cent of the 94,000-plus suicides last year were by students below 18.'' It is therefore necessary to ensure that counsellors reach out instead of waitingfor calls, said mental health professional Dr Harish Shetty, who has prepared elaborate tips to help students.

Tips for parents