The school year is winding down, applications are being accepted and final decisions are being made. Your teen will be heading off to college in just a few short months! Is he/she ready? Major life events (marriage, divorce, birth, child going off to college, etc) can create or worsen mental health conditions. It’s important to learn how to help your teen’s mental health before he/she heads off to college.
So much time and energy has been focused on the academic side of college and admission. And while that is vitally important, there are other areas that can’t be overlooked, especially mental health. For many teens, college is a first major step towards independence. While away at school, he/she will likely be exposed to new people and cultures, drug and alcohol use/abuse, varying social situations, social media, and personal safety circumstances, all the while finding his/her own identity in this new life.
There is an increase in mental health issues each year as teens enter college unprepared for what’s ahead. There are ways, however, to help your teen’s mental health before he/she heads off to college.
Teach Basic Life Skills to Help Your Teen’s Mental Health
Does your teen cook, clean, do laundry, and/or prepare their own schedule at home? If not, now’s the time to get started! Teens at school have to do their own laundry, grocery shop, cook simple meals in their dorms, make healthy choices in the cafeteria, clean their own rooms and make and follow their own schedule.
If your teen isn’t doing these things easily yet, you have a few months to help them get on track before school starts. With these basic life skills tackled, your teen will have more mental energy to focus on other areas.
Encourage Self-care Prior to Starting College
There is a connection between physical and mental well being. It’s so important for your teen to understand this, as well. Help your teen implement self-care prior to leaving for college.
Encourage your teen to get 8 hours of sleep a night (avoid all-nighters!), continue or start exercising, make healthy food choices to fuel the body, all the while eliminating the use of drugs and alcohol.
A healthy, rested body can help regulate our mood and improve our mental health.
3. Support, Don’t Fix
Your child has relied on you for much of his/her life. But that is now changing. Your teen will be heading off soon and you won’t be there to manage or fix his/her problems. And that’s okay!
While your teen is finishing up high school, this is a great time to work on letting go. Your job as a parent is changing. You don’t need to be the problem solver. You need to be part of the support system.
This is the time to encourage more independence in your teen. He/she can use this time to practice problem solving skills. Let your teen know you will always be there for support, but the decisions are now theirs.
You can let your teen know that it’s okay to feel anxious, or sad, or stressed. Your job is to validate their feelings. Not solve the problem.
Your Teen’s Mental Health and College
College can increase mental health issues in teens. It’s far more common than we hear. With the prevalence of academic, social, physical and mental stressors surrounding college, it’s truly no wonder. Talk to your teen about their mental health and about drugs and alcohol. Now may be a great time to start therapy, or continue therapy while in college. What’s most important though is that your teen understands you will be there for support in any capacity needed.
Teen Therapy, Washington, PA Therapists
If you are concerned about your teen’s mental health, there is hope. Life isn’t easy for today’s teens. Mental health problems are rising in this generation, but there is help.
If you feel your teen would benefit by talking to a counselor, or if you have any questions or would like to get to know us a little better, please call (724) 503-6670 or email us at admin@inthenowcounseling.org. You can also talk to us on Facebook and Instagram, too.
