1 BEYOND BED BATH & BEYONDPaul Barreira, M.D., Director of Harvard University Health Services Grace Cheng, Director of Admission, Wellesley College Gloria Mueller, Former Coordinator of College Counseling, Glenbrook South High School
2 Primary Concerns Good Education Social/Emotional GrowthGraduate School Good Paying Job Move Out of the House
3 Hoping for the Best Is Not A PlanAsk about support services as well as academic and social life Be honest about mental health history Fresh starts, secrets = problems Need tools to manage mental health Stress of college often makes things worse
4 When You Do Your Research…Identify Campus Resources Health Center Counseling Center Accommodations Resident Assistants/Directors
5 Check Off-Campus ResourcesPsychiatrist Therapist Pharmacy Hospital/Emergency
6 Counselor Advice During the application process After admissionCheck out the counseling centers Recognize your limits ClipartFest.com
7 High School Graduation ≠ Graduation from TreatmentStudents have not learned to manage treatment Students wait until problems arise Students wait too long to get help in college
8 Why Am I So Sad? Loss of family lifeLoss of adult mentors, role models Millennials less independent than previous generations
9 New Dilemmas Roommates – 2nd time sharing Time ManagementAcademic Pressures – No more A’s Frighteningly Free the First Six Weeks Juggling it all ClipartFest.com
10 More Dilemmas Dependent to independent adulthoodDifferent cultures, values, ideas Sex, drugs and rock and roll Lost glory days Rocky road back home…
11 Self Preservation Exercise Sleep well Eat well Stay connectedBalance your time Productive worry vs. Toxic worry
12 Transition Plan – Have One!Junior year of high school - student in charge of treatment (pick up prescriptions, make/cancel doctor appointments) One month prior to enrollment – review academic plan First week on campus – discuss needs with faculty/roommate Third week – review progress
13 Transition Plan Previous therapist make contact with new therapistSet up long distance treatment plan if continuing with home therapist Consider deferring college if student is not stable
14 What Can We Do? Believe Not JudgeProvide Resources/Support Independence
15 And finally… “Good grades and impressive jobs don’t mean anything if you feel miserable all the time. There are people -- family, friends, peers and counselors who can help you, so reach out when you need to.”
16 References Kadison, Richard, and Theresa Foy DiGeronimo. College of the overwhelmed: the campus mental health crisis and what to do about it. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2004. Elizabeth Gobbi, M.D., Associate Director for Student Psychiatric Care, Northwestern University “College Depression: What Parents Need to Know.” Mayo Clinic. September 2, teen-health/in-depth/college-depression/art “Depression, Stress and Anxiety in College: What Parents Need to Know.” Grown and Flown. November 30, https://grownandflown.com/mental-health-in-college/
17 Additional Considerations from the HS sideEveryone has an emotional tank that needs to be filled Increase self-awareness The E.L.M. Tree Effort Learning Mistakes Character, confidence, self-advocacy
18 Tips for Parents As the student transitions, the entire family transitions Acknowledge shifts and changes may be a good thing Listen! Identity formation Learning experiences in college are both in and out of the classroom Self-reliance and autonomy Knowing where to go for help and resources
19 At Wellesley Mission of the College: To educate women to make a difference in the world Mission of the Wellness Outreach Collaborative: Health Services Physical Education, Recreation and Athletics (PERA) Stone Center Counseling Service Student Involvement The Office of Religious & Spiritual Life The Office of Sustainability Dining Services To meet the diverse and evolving needs of students by fostering a total learning environment that inspires them to cultivate lifelong habits of wellness and empowers them to make a difference in their world
20 Fostering Self-AwarenessSelf-care: Physical, emotional, spiritual growth Self-discovery Self-acceptance Self-advocacy Transformation Tips for effective listening Taking care while giving care
21 Choices for Healthy LivingSemester seminars: Grief Chronic illness Students who carry a mental health diagnosis seeking a peer support network Eating and body image – discuss relationships with food Focus group – seeking black women to foster community Paws for Wellness - 2x a month during lunch time Mental Health Online Screening: self-assessment for depression, anxiety, eating issues