Is your college student not adjusting well or having mental health issues? These suggestions may help both of you.
Know the signs
How can you tell whether your child is homesick or if it’s something more serious? Be aware of the following warnings signs.
- Changes in mood such as sadness, nervousness or irritability
- Changes in appetite, sleep and energy
- Trouble attending class or completing school work
- Withdrawing from friends and activities
- Expressing paranoid or bizarre thoughts
- Frequent thoughts about death or suicide
Learn more about symptoms of mental illness and the warning signs of suicide using the resources on this website.
Communicate regularly
Let your child know you’re concerned. Work together to arrange times for check ins. A daily text may help you both feel better until a scheduled weekly phone call.
How often you check in will depend on your relationship and the nature of the problem. A weekly call may be good enough if your child is having a tough time, but functioning well. If a child is not coping well at all, feeling overwhelmed and on the verge of having to withdraw from school because of emotional/psychological distress, then more frequent ‘checking in’ would be appropriate.
When you do have time to talk, remember to:
- Listen without interrupting, trying to fix things or judging.
- Remain calm and ask questions that encourage your child to problem-solve.
- Express an accepting attitude of getting help from counselors and doctors.
- Don’t be afraid to ask them if they are thinking about or planning suicide.
- If you believe they are in immediate danger, call the campus police.
Helping from afar
You may be feeling helpless to make things better for them. But you can help. Consider these suggestions:
- To help them grow, encourage them to look into resources on campus that might help. These include a medical doctor, counselor or clergyman.
- If they find this overwhelming, make calls and visit the college website to help them create a list of contacts.
- Help them find a mental health professional in the surrounding town if needed.
Your child can sign a release allowing their counselor to communicate with you.
Familiarize yourself with the student services office on campus. They can help with medical withdrawal from school, if necessary. They can also help with psychological testing or special accommodations due to a mental health disability. This could include a student who has attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and needs to take tests alone in a testing center.
Bringing your child home
Talk with your child about taking time off from school if their mood and behavior is keeping them from meeting the requirements of college. However, the final choice to take a leave or a medical withdrawal should be made by your student.
Take care of yourself
Be sure to:
- Get adequate rest, nutrition and recreation.
- Take occasional breaks from thinking and talking about your child’s problems.
- Seek professional help if the crisis is too much for your own mental health.
Is your college student not adjusting well or having mental health issues? These suggestions may help both of you.
Know the signs
How can you tell whether your child is homesick or if it’s something more serious? Be aware of the following warnings signs.
- Changes in mood such as sadness, nervousness or irritability
- Changes in appetite, sleep and energy
- Trouble attending class or completing school work
- Withdrawing from friends and activities
- Expressing paranoid or bizarre thoughts
- Frequent thoughts about death or suicide
Learn more about symptoms of mental illness and the warning signs of suicide using the resources on this website.
Communicate regularly
Let your child know you’re concerned. Work together to arrange times for check ins. A daily text may help you both feel better until a scheduled weekly phone call.
How often you check in will depend on your relationship and the nature of the problem. A weekly call may be good enough if your child is having a tough time, but functioning well. If a child is not coping well at all, feeling overwhelmed and on the verge of having to withdraw from school because of emotional/psychological distress, then more frequent ‘checking in’ would be appropriate.
When you do have time to talk, remember to:
- Listen without interrupting, trying to fix things or judging.
- Remain calm and ask questions that encourage your child to problem-solve.
- Express an accepting attitude of getting help from counselors and doctors.
- Don’t be afraid to ask them if they are thinking about or planning suicide.
- If you believe they are in immediate danger, call the campus police.
Helping from afar
You may be feeling helpless to make things better for them. But you can help. Consider these suggestions:
- To help them grow, encourage them to look into resources on campus that might help. These include a medical doctor, counselor or clergyman.
- If they find this overwhelming, make calls and visit the college website to help them create a list of contacts.
- Help them find a mental health professional in the surrounding town if needed.
Your child can sign a release allowing their counselor to communicate with you.
Familiarize yourself with the student services office on campus. They can help with medical withdrawal from school, if necessary. They can also help with psychological testing or special accommodations due to a mental health disability. This could include a student who has attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and needs to take tests alone in a testing center.
Bringing your child home
Talk with your child about taking time off from school if their mood and behavior is keeping them from meeting the requirements of college. However, the final choice to take a leave or a medical withdrawal should be made by your student.
Take care of yourself
Be sure to:
- Get adequate rest, nutrition and recreation.
- Take occasional breaks from thinking and talking about your child’s problems.
- Seek professional help if the crisis is too much for your own mental health.
Is your college student not adjusting well or having mental health issues? These suggestions may help both of you.
Know the signs
How can you tell whether your child is homesick or if it’s something more serious? Be aware of the following warnings signs.
- Changes in mood such as sadness, nervousness or irritability
- Changes in appetite, sleep and energy
- Trouble attending class or completing school work
- Withdrawing from friends and activities
- Expressing paranoid or bizarre thoughts
- Frequent thoughts about death or suicide
Learn more about symptoms of mental illness and the warning signs of suicide using the resources on this website.
Communicate regularly
Let your child know you’re concerned. Work together to arrange times for check ins. A daily text may help you both feel better until a scheduled weekly phone call.
How often you check in will depend on your relationship and the nature of the problem. A weekly call may be good enough if your child is having a tough time, but functioning well. If a child is not coping well at all, feeling overwhelmed and on the verge of having to withdraw from school because of emotional/psychological distress, then more frequent ‘checking in’ would be appropriate.
When you do have time to talk, remember to:
- Listen without interrupting, trying to fix things or judging.
- Remain calm and ask questions that encourage your child to problem-solve.
- Express an accepting attitude of getting help from counselors and doctors.
- Don’t be afraid to ask them if they are thinking about or planning suicide.
- If you believe they are in immediate danger, call the campus police.
Helping from afar
You may be feeling helpless to make things better for them. But you can help. Consider these suggestions:
- To help them grow, encourage them to look into resources on campus that might help. These include a medical doctor, counselor or clergyman.
- If they find this overwhelming, make calls and visit the college website to help them create a list of contacts.
- Help them find a mental health professional in the surrounding town if needed.
Your child can sign a release allowing their counselor to communicate with you.
Familiarize yourself with the student services office on campus. They can help with medical withdrawal from school, if necessary. They can also help with psychological testing or special accommodations due to a mental health disability. This could include a student who has attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and needs to take tests alone in a testing center.
Bringing your child home
Talk with your child about taking time off from school if their mood and behavior is keeping them from meeting the requirements of college. However, the final choice to take a leave or a medical withdrawal should be made by your student.
Take care of yourself
Be sure to:
- Get adequate rest, nutrition and recreation.
- Take occasional breaks from thinking and talking about your child’s problems.
- Seek professional help if the crisis is too much for your own mental health.