WASHINGTON 鈥斅燩arents sending kids to college should realize 75 percent of mental illnesses manifest by the age of 24. The National Alliance on Mental Illness has a guide for caregivers and students with information聽they should聽be aware of before college starts.
Suicide is聽the second-leading cause of death among young adults, after unintentional injuries. NAMI believes that the more people talk about mental health, the easier it will be to take care of it.
NAMI recommends parents start a conversation by saying something such as, “I know you鈥檙e excited about starting school. I鈥檓 excited for you too. Before school starts, let鈥檚 talk about common struggles that come up.”
聽has helpful information.
Stressors that might affect mental health include:
- Bad grades
- Feeling overwhelmed
- Ending a relationship
- Sports team losses
- Feeling like you don’t fit in
- Worrying about family back home
NAMI’s advice for managing college stress includes:
- Make to-do lists approaching items one at a time
- Seek support from friends or family
- Exercise, get enough sleep and eat healthy foods
- Avoid caffeine, smoking, alcohol and drugs
- Practice meditation or pray
- Make and take time for yourself
- Ask friends how they manage stress
NAMI says聽that even if their advice聽doesn’t apply to you, it might help you help someone else going through a tough time.
See the full-text of NAMI”s College Guide
