High school graduations are amongst us and everyone has reasons to celebrate! Parents – you did it! You supported emotionally, physically, and mentally your kids to succeed! Kids – you did the hard work needed to cross the finish line and graduate! Next step: College.
As exciting as this huge next step is, there are some conversations still to be had. A recently released survey has revealed a concerning trend among college students: increasing mental health struggles. So much so that it’s causing more students to consider dropping out.
The primary reason cited for considering leaving college was emotional stress and personal mental health issues. When you factor in the statistic that that about 75% of lifetime mental health problems start by the mid-20s and students believing that there’s no resources for help from the college, it becomes a recipe for disaster.
Parents should discuss with their kids some of the emotional possibilities they may face when they go off to college. This may be the first time they leave home and the newfound freedom, as great as it may sound to them, can sometimes be problematic. The discussions are the same for kids that are going to college while living at home. Educate and normalize the struggles early!
Source: https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/23/health/mental-health-college-dropout-survey-wellness/index.html