Let’s begin with an anecdote…
Texas-raised and, until now, exclusively Texas-based, I’m a first-year undergraduate student in Boston.
At first, the months pass by swimmingly. I’m making friends, enjoying my classes, and my grades are strong–straight As, in fact. With time, my dorm begins to feel more like home than anywhere that is not my childhood bedroom. I’m considered a “regular” at a local coffee shop that sells incredible almond croissants.
In other words, all proceeds according to my brightest hopes for college life until, with one fell drop of the figurative mercury, my first Winter In The Northeast begins. And, boy, am I unprepared.
It’s not the layers I lack; I had rather enjoyed the absurdity of picking out a puffer coat in the middle of my previous Texas summer. I knew it would get cold. Indeed, I awaited with impatient relish to experience the first “proper snow” of my life.
In hindsight, what I had not anticipated was the mental toll it would take on me to go two, even three, full weeks without feeling the sun on my skin, coupled with the newfound torment of chronic fatigue. Worst of all was the deep sense of isolation I had begun to feel among my peers—my sudden lack of interest in the hobbies I once loved.
And, as my mental health took a hit, so did my academic performance.
I learned only too late that I was far from alone in my experience. To this day, inadequately preparing myself for the onset of my first grueling Boston winters is the greatest regret of my undergraduate experience. To parents of incoming college students, I say: learn from my mistakes.
The Earlier, the Better
Even if the next step of your child’s educational career lands them in sunny Florida, a vulnerable, thorough discussion about mental health preparedness is always worth the effort. Of course, despite all the recent progress we’ve made as a society to destigmatize mental healthcare, it remains a taboo subject, one that many adolescents may feel reluctant to explore with a parent.
The fact is that a large number of teenagers are struggling. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 1 in 3 high school students experienced persistent sadness or hopelessness in 2019. This statistic represents a 40% increase since 2009.
Unsurprisingly, mental health struggles don’t disappear after graduation. In fact, the lifestyle changes involved in a transition to university education, including a possible move to a new city/state, increased daily responsibilities, and sudden independence, can exacerbate pre-existing issues.
This is why The Enrichery recommends discussing mental healthcare with your child before they take off for college.
Starting the Conversation
In addressing mental health preparedness with your child, begin by encouraging them to reflect on their high school experience. Consider the following prompts to get started:
- What do you believe were the biggest mental health challenges you overcame throughout high school? What are the struggles you did not overcome?
- How have you learned to cope with academic and social pressure in the past? Which of these coping mechanisms do you plan to bring with you to college? Which do you hope to drop?
- What is it about the place in which you’ve been raised that makes it feel like home to you? Have you thought about how you will attempt to replicate these feelings in your new college environment?
- Do you feel energized or drained in the prolonged company of others? How have you learned to communicate these preferences to your friends?
Knowledge Is Power
After reflecting on your child’s unique experiences, consider how they may fit in the specific environment of their university setting. Via online search or directly asking a school’s counseling center, seek the following information about the mental healthcare services available to your rising college student:
- Broadly, what mental healthcare services does the school provide?
- What is the maximum number of sessions a student is allowed to attend per year with an on-campus specialist? Does the school offer off-campus referrals once that limit is exhausted?
- Is there an on-campus counselor on call 24 hours a day? If not, what services are provided for after-hours emergency care?
- Does the school offer disability accommodations for students with emotional disorders?
- What is the school’s leave of absence policy?
- What sources of alternative support are available to students (e.g., resident advisors, support groups, and mentorship programs)?
Actionable Steps for Long-Term Wellbeing
Armed with the knowledge and vocabulary to face such matters, encourage your child to connect with an on-campus counselor or off-campus specialist early on in their college journey. Even students who feel adequately equipped to handle the challenges of college could benefit from the opportunity to discuss with a trusted professional the struggles they anticipate facing in the future. Recall that time-worn adage: prevention is better than cure.
In anticipation of this session, help your child list 2-3 issues they wish to raise regarding their future well-being. Examples include:
- “I predict I will hit a motivational slump in the middle of the semester.”
- “I don’t feel ready to make friends by myself.”
- “I worry I will neglect my physical health as I prioritize performing well in school.”
Executive Function is at the core of everything we do at The Enrichery to support our students through every stage of their academic and personal lives. Students of all ages and levels throughout the year are encouraged to seek the support they require to ease their transition to adulthood. For more information, contact us today.
