Following the postponement of NEET-PG 2024 as a precautionary measure, students who were set to take the exam the next day have been expressing concerns over the sudden decision. The postponement came amid protests over paper leaks and other alleged irregularities in the conduct of NEET undergraduate exam on May 5.
To put the story in perspective, NEET-PG usually takes place from December to January. It was delayed and scheduled for March 3 this year. Then it was postponed to July 7 and then advanced to June 23. And now, it stands postponed indefinitely.
“Fresh date of this examination will be notified at the earliest,” the ministry said in an official notice.
More than 2 lakh doctors were about to take the NEET-PG exam in the next eight hours and the abrupt decision to postpone it has been heavily criticised by the candidates, many of whom had to travel to other cities to appear for the exam – after taking leaves, spending money on travel, and booking accommodation in advance.
Social media is inundated with angry posts from NEET aspirants. Dr Suhas Ananthram, an aspirant, posted on X: “I have traveled to another state, staying here for three days spending’s thousand of rupees and this happens? What the hell?”
The anger is understandable. However, it’s not the end of the road. The message to the candidates affected by alleged irregularities in NEET-UG and those impacted by the NEET-PG exam postponement is to stay resilient.
News18 spoke to multiple mental and physical health experts who advised taking control over emotions causing anxiety, irritability and frustration.
Any such uncertainty and disruption can undoubtedly impact the mental and emotional well-being of these aspiring professionals. Dr Rajeev Jayadevan, who was the first rank holder in Kerala state medical entrance in 1986, told me that the recent events make him “cringe”.
However, he shared multiple pieces of advice for the candidates while adding that if the prevailing uncertainty is making these aspirants anxious, remember that “uncertainty is a part of being alive on the planet”. He advised to seek professional help instead of self-diagnosing or turning to other substances for temporary relief.
“Doctors are just as human as anyone else and can face the same physical and mental health issues. If you constantly feel a loss of interest or motivation, aren’t sleeping well, lack your usual energy, seek professional help instead of self-diagnosing,” said Jayadevan, former president of the Kochi wing of the Indian Medical Association. He also warned that using alcohol or substances for temporary relief is dangerous.
Stay away from doom-scrolling: Mental health experts
Similarly, mental health counsellors also suggest reaching out for support by talking to friends, family, or a mental health professional to share your thoughts and feelings.
A psychotherapist, who works as a mental health counsellor at a public hospital, told me while requesting anonymity that some of the affected students have reached out to her to share their “concern over the bleak future”.
She advised that it’s essential to maintain a structured daily schedule and self-care routines to preserve a sense of normalcy. “Take care of your physical and mental health by eating well, getting enough sleep, exercising, and engaging in activities that bring you joy and relaxation.”
Mental health professionals acknowledge that entrance exams have always been stressful. However, the ongoing state of affairs would impact the candidates even more severely.
For instance, Dr Jyoti Kapoor, a senior consultant psychiatrist and psychotherapist told News18 that the ongoing affairs could be quite frustrating for students.
Kapoor, who is also founder-director at Manasthali, Mental Health & Wellness Services, in Gurgaon advised that “it’s important to accept that challenges like these are part and parcel of life and especially as medical practitioners, we face such issues as part of our profession itself, therefore taking care of one’s health is of prime importance.”
She also warned students to stay away from consuming too much news.
“Beware of overuse of social media and doom-scrolling. It’s better to just have enough necessary information and focus on one’s goals.”
Repeatedly reading opinions and counter opinions on the given situation only helps to increase the anger and frustration making one feel like a helpless victim. This impacts the focus and causes an overwhelming surge of negative feelings and emotions.
Entrance tests are not going to decide the quality of your life; you are going to do that. At the end of the day, success depends on an individual’s satisfaction and happiness which depends on multiple factors only one of which is the choice of speciality.
In short, take control over your nerves and stay informed about any updates regarding the exam, but avoid excessive news consumption which can increase anxiety and agony. It is a challenging time. However, with patience and perseverance, one can overcome it.
According to Hyderabad-based neurologist Dr Sudhir Kumar, the NEET-UG fiasco has affected students as young as 16-18 years, many of who have hit the streets in protest. “They should conserve their energies to fight bigger battles and emerge a better doctor in the future,” said Kumar, who works at Apollo Hospital.
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