Emotionally Preparing Your Son or Daughter for College

Once a coed passes the rigors of the college admissions process, the student is faced with a myriad of college-related problems. The two most common mental health obstacles faced by college coeds today are anxiety and depression. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students. Anxiety is the most commonly reported mental problem among college students.  In recent years we have also seen the pressure placed on students to succeed in college as their performance is linked to obtaining the “dream job.”  Students are feeling the pressure of parents, academic programs and competition among peers to succeed.  

The issue here is not just the stress of college academics, it’s the simple truth that between the ages of 14 and 26, the presence of psychiatric disorders appears. How do students cope with the pressure?  Statistics indicate that 1 in 4 college students will have a substance use disorder while in college. Students report lack of sleep, poor eating habits and in general, poor self-care.  Many students are using substances to self-medicate undiagnosed mental health issues.  

Undiagnosed and undertreated mental illness is one of the leading causes of college dropouts. Colleges and universities across the nation are taking note and increasing awareness of mental health and mental services on campus.  However, it is also the responsibility of parents to emotionally prepare students for the pressures and rigors of collegiate life.  Parents need to determine the emotional readiness of their coed for college.  It is not having the perfect GPA, the extra-curricular activities, and the stellar personal essay, it is the need for students to have a sense of self, and for parents to be cognizant of the signs and symptoms related to anxiety, depression, and substance abuse.