Guidance for Parents: Aiding Students with Mental Health Issues Upon Arrival
Updated on May 27, 2025: The online publication Atlanta Journal-Constitution was correctly spelled in this post.
As the school year approaches for college-bound students, parents play a crucial role in supporting their children, especially those with a history of mental health concerns. A Forbes.com report from 2024 offers strategies tailored for this group of students.
Promote Awareness of Personal Stress Levels
While college might seem like a fresh start, adjusting to a new environment can be stressful, contributing to mental health symptoms in some students. By having discussions about monitoring stress and personal symptoms, parents can provide valuable support.
Disclose Family History
Mental health issues often develop during adolescence and young adulthood. Knowing a student's family history of mental health concerns can help clarify diagnoses and formulate an effective treatment plan. Moreover, every emerging adult should be aware of potential risk factors in their family history.
Learn Support Services on Campus
During orientation, it is common for parents to guide their students to the campus counseling center. However, thoroughly understanding the available resources and how they work is vital for parents to support their students effectively. Other on-campus offices, such as the dean of students or health promotions, may also offer support.
Develop Realistic Plans
Parents should create practical plans to meet their students' mental health needs while considering factors like session limits and medical withdrawal policies at the college. Collaboration with campus mental health professionals can help ensure an appropriate plan is in place.
Encourage Seeking Help
While many students know where the university counseling center is located, some may still be hesitant to seek counseling. Parents can play a key role in fostering an open attitude toward counseling and encouraging students to seek help when necessary.
Parents are a primary source of support for incoming college students, and acknowledging their history of mental health concerns is essential. Supporting these students does not have to be a daunting task, and the strategies outlined above can help parents navigate this critical period in their child's life. For a more comprehensive understanding of specific support strategies, readers can refer directly to the article on Forbes.com.
In the context of incoming college students, science and education-and-self-development can play a vital role in understanding and addressing mental health concerns. parents can boost their children's mental health by promoting awareness of personal stress levels and our mental health (science), learning about support services on campus (health-and-wellness, education-and-self-development), and encouraging students to seek help when needed (personal-growth). Ultimately, parental support is crucial for the mental health in college (mental-health) of students with a history of mental health concerns, and understanding strategies tailored for this demographic can help facilitate their personal growth and overall well-being.
