Two of the biggest concerns parents have when they send their sons and daughters to college are whether they will be safe, and whether they will do well academically. Both of those concerns are legitimate, and both are closely related to alcohol and other drugs, whether used by the student or by their fellow students.
Even at this late stage of early adulthood, parents continue to exhibit influence on the choices their children make as far as friends, which in turn influences their son’s and daughter’s drinking (and other risky choices) in college. Perhaps the most important thing parents can do to help ensure their children make healthy, informed decisions while in college is to clearly communicate their positive expectations. Parents should play an active role with their college-age children by talking to them about their academic and social lives. Phone calls, postcards and e-mails are easy mechanisms to remain engaged, especially during those critical first few days and weeks college life when students are most vulnerable and are at greatest risk of making high-risk decisions. Research has shown that the more involved parents are, the more likely their children are to make safer choices.
Did you know that nearly half of all college students reported feeling so depressed that they couldn’t function during the last school year? More than that have faced an emotional problem of some sort. Sometimes these challenges can make it difficult for students to keep up with the demands of college life, and sometimes the impact is even more devastating. In fact, suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students. With so many people struggling, why is it still hard for us to talk about “mental health?” Nearly all mental health issues can be improved with proper treatment. When we decrease the stigma around mental health and encourage students to seek help if they need it, we are changing and saving lives.
Please download and executive summary of the 2006 “mtvU College Mental Health Study: Stress, Depression, Stigma & Students.”
