As I was perusing the Child Mind Institute's website today, I came across a very interesting article.  It was cautioning parents that they need to be aware of their child's mental health while they are at college.  Apparently, there are a growing number of suicides on college campuses, so colleges are really trying to address this issue.  The article, entitled "Is Your Child Enrolled in Suicide University?" clearly explained that it is not the school or type of school environment that creates these suicidal urges in students (eg. Cornell is rumored to have high suicide rates due to the pressure, however, they are not really higher than other universities).  Sometimes parents think that sending away their children who are already struggling with a mental illness will give them a "fresh start."  However, Harold Koplewicz, MD, the writer of this article states that this is not a solution.  You cannot outrun a mental illness by changing location.   In general, it is important to check in with your child while they are away, and keep the lines of communication open.  Look for signs of depression in your child such as dropping grades, isolation, or lack of interest in activities.  And, if your child has been diagnosed with a mental illness before going away to school, make every effort to secure proper supports for them on campus before they start school.  This will give both you and them peace of mind while they are away. 

Be Well,
~Emily

The other day, the NY Times came out with quite a revealing article.  It said that in the last year, there has been a great increase in college age students who are struggling with their mental health.  Please feel free to read the article in full by clicking here.

This article really reveals what I am already finding in my work:  college is stressful, and does not always prepare young adults for the challenges of adult life.  I see so many college age students in my practice, especially young women, who are worried about their future.  The economy is not good, and this puts a lot of pressure on students already confused about what to do with their future.  And, college does not offer courses on how to manage this type of stress, or any type of stress for that matter. 

So, what can be done to help these students?  Their education needs to be "supplemented" with some sort of counseling.  These days, counseling teaches skills on how to manage the difficult emotions that come up for young adults as they are moving into adulthood.  Many college campuses have free counseling for students.  In addition, there are many clinicians and mental health practitioners who specialize in working with young adults (one being me!). 

Counseling should be looked at as a vital part of a young adult's education.  If they are able to build coping skills to manage their stresses in college, these skills will be able to be transferred into their life. 

Be Well
~Emily