The Indian Psychiatric Society – North Zone set rolling a new initiative titled “LET’S CELEBRATE EXAMS”, on February 11, 2024, with an online program featuring teachers and parents of children appearing for Class 9 to Class 12 exams, and a galaxy of mental health professionals. The program saw the participation of over 200 teachers and parents.

A distinguished panel of experts comprising Dr Om Sai Ramesh V, Professor, Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi, Dr Yatan Pal Singh Balhara, Professor, NDDTC, AIIMS, Delhi, Dr Rachna Bhargava, Professor, Clinical Psychology, NDDTC, AIIMS, Delhi, Dr Jitender Aneja, Additional Professor, AIIMS, Bathinda, and Dr Nidhi Chauhan, Assistant Professor, PGIMER, Chandigarh, answered the queries sent by the teachers and the parents, on a wide range of issues related to the stress associated with approaching exams.

One session each, for the parents and the teachers was conducted. The sessions were chaired by senior psychiatrists of the North Zone, including Dr Abdul Maajid, Immediate Past President of the IPS – North Zone, Dr Roop Sidana, IPS NZ representative to the IPS, Dr Sandeep Goyal, past President of the IPS -North Zone, Dr Deepali Gul, Professor at P.I.M.S., Jalandhar (Punjab), and Dr Vinod Kumar Daria, Professor at GMC, Kota (Rajasthan). The program was moderated by Dr Gulbahar Sidhu, Honorary Treasurer, IPS – North Zone.

The event was graced by Dr Savita Malhotra, Honorable Vice-President and President (elect), I.P.S. who emphasized on seeing all exams in the larger context of life and not to pressurize the children to excel in them.

Dr Gurvinder Pal Singh, Vice-President, IPS – North Zone, spoke on the need to have realistic expectations from the children.

The participants were welcomed by Dr Mamta Sood, Professor of Psychiatry at AIIMS, New Delhi, and the President of the IPS – North Zone. She also concluded the session by underscoring the need to make the children learn life skills instead of only focusing on getting good scores in the exams, and that, the aim of studying should be to make responsible citizens of the future.

Dr Naresh Nebhinani, Professor of Psychiatry at AIIMS Jodhpur, and the Honorary General Secretary of the IPS – North Zone, proposed a vote of thanks.