In a first-of-its-kind mental health survey conducted by the National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT), it was revealed that exams and results are a cause of anxiety for 80% of middle and secondary school students in India. The survey also found that 45% of students were suffering from body image issues. On Tuesday, the survey results were released, and the report stated that the influence of factors such as psychological, social, environmental, and life situations on mental health and well-being are well-documented concepts. Hence, the survey titled "The Mental Health and Well-being of School Students" was conducted to gain insights into the perceptions of students related to some of these factors.

The survey included 3,79,842 students studying in classes 6 to12 in both public as well as private schools, out of which, 1,58,581 students were from the middle school level, while 2,21,261 were from the secondary level. Based on the survey results, it was observed that while 51% of students claimed to be satisfied with their personal life, 73% were happy with their school life. The survey also showed that 51% of students faced difficulty in learning online content.

The survey linked the challenges of an identity crisis, peer pressure, fear of board examinations, uncertainty about the future, college admissions, and career worry as markers associated with declining satisfaction with personal and school life as students shifted from middle to secondary school. The survey found a similar trend in body image issues, where the students had less confidence in themselves as they reached higher classes. The emotional changes that students went through during the pandemic were also documented in the study, showing that 43% of the students developed mood swings, followed by 7% of students developing emotions of self-harm. 

(Source: https://theprint.in/health/80-of-middle-secondary-school-students-have-exam-anxieties-45-body-image-issues-ncert-study/1119075/ )