It’s mid-August and that time of year again. Having just dropped off my first-born at college a mere ten days ago, the off-to-school drill for first-year students is fresh in mind:
Tuition paid, insurance waiver and other paperwork filed
New clothes, laptop, mini fridge, school supplies, etc
Figure out transportation options while away at school
Have the talk about alcohol, drugs, safety, sex, study habits, and mental health…
That’s right, mental health needs to be on your checklist.
Most parents trust that their sons and daughters, having successfully negotiated the perils of high school, will be able to handle the additional pressures and freedoms of college life. But that won’t stop us from worrying. College campuses are places where alcohol, drugs, and casual sex are generally available, and opportunities for study, sound sleep, and good nutrition may not always be as common.  One item that may not show up on parents’ worry radars but probably should, is students’ mental health.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) reports that 75% of lifetime mental health conditions begin by age 24, and a 2011 study by the American College Health Association (ACHA) found that 30 percent of college students reported feeling “so depressed that it was difficult to function” at some time in the past year. In a blog post on August 5 (“Environmental Triggers and Early Intervention for Schizophrenia“), I wrote about why so many mental health problems first appear when a young person moves away from the family home to live at college. The pressures of academic life, separation from the family, disrupted routines, unchecked substance use, and the demands of communal living can lead to feelings that life has become unmanageable and maybe even not worth living.
Emory University reports that a startling one in ten college students has made a plan for suicide (Emory Cares 4 U). Â Chances are that your son or daughter will have a friend or dorm mate who thinks of suicide or otherwise experiences a mental health problem during his or her college years. Â There is no shame in acknowledging that your son or daughter may even be one of the 20% of Americans who live with a mental health condition at some point in their lives.
It is never easy to talk about a subject as somber as suicide and mental illness. But that is not a reason to avoid the topic, any more than you would avoid a discussion with your kids about safe sex or driving while intoxicated.
Here are 5 talking points for parents to make the discussion go a little easier:
- Starting college is exciting but can cause anxiety and other stress-related symptoms.
- Anyone can have a mental health problem; good looks, popularity, athletic prowess, academic excellence, or a great sense of humor do not make a young person immune to mental illness.
- Mental health disorders are like other illnesses – they can be diagnosed and treated.
- A young person at risk is more likely to respond positively to a friend or peer than to a mental health professional or school official.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help – for yourself or for someone else.  Getting help early results in better outcomes and improved rates of recovery.
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There are many sides to mental health recovery. Jay’s blog takes The Family Side.
- Silver Hill Hospital: My Family’s 35-Year History with a National Leader in Quality Mental Health Care - February 7, 2023
- Connecticut Mother Who Lost a Son to Overdose Shares Her Story and Hosts Wilton Fundraiser to Benefit Laurel House - November 9, 2022
- Laurel House Offers $10,000 Racial Equity Scholarship for a Black or Hispanic Student Pursuing a Master’s of Social Work Degree - June 8, 2022
The impact sobriety and wellness makes on mental illness sometimes seems forgotten given the bustle of our daily lives, especially during life changes, like going off to college. In my experience, not just alcohol and drugs, as commonly understood, but really *anything* that detracts from clarity of mind, can and does have impact on mental illness. Poor nutrition, sleep-deprivation, abusing substances like nicotine and caffeine, and other factors you mention in the blog, all have impact.
Campbell,
Thank you for your comment.
The flip side of not doing things that detract from clarity of mind, is doing things that contribute to mental wellness, such as physical exercise, using one’s thinking skills, engaging in mindfulness meditation, and socializing with other people.
The idea that sobriety and wellness impact mental health is actually very empowering. It means that people living with mental illness don’t have to be just passive recipients of treatments and services. They can make choices about what they consume and how they behave that result in improved mental and physical health.