Guest blog by Sheri Leasure, LCSW
Stores across the country are stocking aisles with storage bins, twin XL sheets and teen-friendly snacks in readiness for the onslaught of parents preparing their college kids to head away from home and move into their dorms. For many first-year college students and their parents, this season is filled with bittersweet moments and the stress of ensuring the students have everything they need for a successful transition to college life. If you find yourself among them, you also may want to prepare your college student for how to maintain their mental health as they become an undergrad.
Why mental health is important for college students
It is a sad statistic that as many as one in three college students will suffer from depression and/or anxiety. As exciting as the transition to college may be, it is a major life change. The nervous system reacts to change with stress regardless of the nature of that change. This means that a college student’s mind and body are under increased stress before they ever download their first syllabus.
Daily life is suddenly different for a first-time college student. A parent is no longer there to do the laundry and remind them of appointments. If new to campus, they must create a whole new friend group as well as handle the increased difficulty level of their studies. It is no wonder that so many start off excited but quickly get overwhelmed, leading to challenges to mental health in college. However, you can help prepare your new college student to withstand the increased pressure. An open conversation about how college affects mental health is a great place to start.
What are the signs of stress that my student should consider a concern?
First, remind your student about the signs of overwhelm. These include symptoms of anxiety and depression such as the following:
- Low mood most days which may include crying spells with no obvious cause
- Fatigue, feeling very heavy in your body
- Loss of interest in activities you would normally enjoy
- Wanting to isolate or withdraw from social interaction
- Trouble sleeping or wanting to sleep far more than average
- Lack of appetite resulting in weight loss or increased emotional eating resulting in weight gain
- Getting angry or frustrated over things that would normally not bother you
- Thoughts of death, suicide or not wanting to be alive
- Trouble focusing on schoolwork or conversations
- Panic attacks or increased worry
- Feeling overwhelmed when making decisions
Armed with this information, students will at least be ready to identify when they need help. Reassure your student that there is no shame in struggling with these symptoms and that it is a characteristic of strong people to ask for help when it’s needed. You can also let them know that because challenges to mental health in universities can be common, higher academic institutions typically have counseling centers on campus.
Related Reading: Coping Skills for Teens with Anxiety
What should my student do if they are feeling overwhelmed?
1.Get help early
Encourage your student to get professional help as soon as they begin to notice any of the above signs. Better yet, prepare ahead of time. Work with your student to research student services on campus and local off-campus therapists before they arrive so that they already know where to go in the event they need help.
If your student already has a therapist at home, ask the therapist if they can still offer telehealth services to your student while they are at school. (Be aware that if your student leaves the state, some therapists’ licenses do not allow them to see out-of-town clients. This may require finding a therapist near campus so that your student can continue services without interruption.) Call your insurance company and/or research local therapists and get your student set up with them before school begins.
2. Reach out for support from family and friends
College students often find themselves feeling lonely or homesick. Some students easily make friends but for others it takes longer to develop a community on campus. Remind your student that family and friends back home are readily available and that keeping in touch will help them feel connected and supported while they make this transition.
Set up consistent check-ins via text or phone call. Better yet, encourage students to Zoom or Facetime with their siblings, grandparents, friends, etc, even if just to watch a television show together weekly. This sense of remaining connected to their family may alleviate homesickness and act as a protective factor for their mental health.
3. Beware of the effect of substances on stress
College life often includes parties that involve easy access to alcohol, cannabis, and other drugs. For many, these parties and the subsequent consequences are simply a rite of passage. However, it is important to remind your students that these substances have detrimental effects on stress levels. Excessive use can lead to substance use disorders and increase the risk of depression significantly.
4. Increase self-care
While at home, even college-age students are likely to have a parent monitoring them and ensuring that they are taking care of themselves. But away at school, all self-care suddenly becomes the responsibility of the student. Remind your student that basics like regular sleep, nutrition, exercise, hygiene, and healthy social connection are foundational for mental health. These activities become even more important when stress levels are up. Support your child by offering to check in occasionally to make sure they are caring well for their bodies. Explain that adults benefit from having others check in on them from time to time.
5. Be patient with yourself
New beginnings are hard. The excitement of a positive change can quickly turn to anxiety when the newness wears off and the reality of hard work sets in. Remind your student that this will happen eventually and that it is likely to pass. By Thanksgiving break, most college students will have settled into a routine and will be functioning well. Others may take longer. Each person’s nervous system is unique and needs time to adapt to so much change. Reassure your child that their mind and body will adjust given enough time and care and that they have the tools they need to manage any overwhelm they may feel. Encourage them to be patient with themselves and to adjust at their own pace without comparing themselves to others.
Related Reading: How to Talk to Friends and Family About Mental Health
Resources for college students
For more information on how college affects mental health and other mental health topics, visit the National Institutes of Health and check out the following article: College Students: Mental Health Problems and Treatment Considerations – PMC (nih.gov)
If you are in Illinois and are struggling with mental health, trained therapists at Life Care Wellness are here to help! Please reach out to us in our Northern Illinois locations in Glen Ellyn, Chicago (Jefferson Park), Sycamore, or Yorkville.
Sheri Leasure, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with training in Internal Family Systems, Somatic Experiencing, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Mindfulness, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). She sees clients in the Glen Ellyn and Sycamore offices.
