| The telephone call in the middle of the afternoon from | | | | assistance in any decisions that may need to be |
| her son attending college out of state surprised Cindy, | | | | made. This is not a failure, only a hiccup. |
| but what happened next was alarming. Her son asked | | | | • If your student acknowledges that they are not |
| where she was; she laughingly replied, “Home | | | | feeling like themselves, ask them to call or go to the on |
| making your favorite lunch.” He said, | | | | campus health center on campus. Ask your student to |
| “Oh… I’ll call someone else to come | | | | sign a release form allowing you to receive information |
| get me.” Cindy paused, and then asked where | | | | about their condition. |
| he was. He replied, “I just checked myself into a | | | | • Visit the on site campus health center website |
| mental hospital – Bye”. The phone went | | | | for mental health resources. You will most likely find |
| dead. Cindy had no idea where he was; he did not | | | | valuable links to the other resources. |
| answer her return call to his cell phone (later she found | | | | • If you are unable to contact your student, |
| out it had been taken away by hospital staff) and she | | | | contact their friends, roommate(s) or neighbors, and |
| wasn’t sure where to start. | | | | resident advisor or hall director if they are in the |
| This article is intended not to scare you but to educate | | | | residence halls. Carefully share your concerns. Ask if |
| you. As parents like Cindy, we need to be equipped to | | | | they can assist you in contacting your student. The |
| handle the unexpected. Psychological | | | | campus housing department may be able to assist |
| distress—including anxiety, depression, substance | | | | you with finding this contact information. |
| abuse, and self-harm—has increased dramatically | | | | • If you’re concerned and don’t feel |
| among undergraduates. One survey found that more | | | | that your student will call the Psychological Health and |
| than 90 percent of college counseling centers reported | | | | Psychiatry Clinic at the on campus heath center, know |
| seeing more students with serious mental health | | | | that most campus health centers will take all calls from |
| problems than in past years. Another study of 90,000 | | | | parents seriously and will respond with a wellness |
| students showed that 50 percent showed signs of | | | | check if necessary. Get the name of the staff |
| depression and 93 percent felt overwhelmed at some | | | | member that you spoke to for follow-up. |
| point in their college career. Colleges face the difficult | | | | • If it is after hours at at the health center or you |
| task of balancing the needs of distressed students | | | | feel that your student is in danger and/or needs a |
| with their responsibility to provide a safe learning | | | | wellness check immediately, call the local city police |
| environment. | | | | dispatch. City police will work with the campus police to |
| Here is the catch: The Family Educational Rights and | | | | best recognize and treat your student in an |
| Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) guarantees specific | | | | emergency situation. City police are exempt from |
| rights to students regarding the privacy of their | | | | FERPA. |
| educational and medical records. This includes privacy | | | | • Make sure your student and you know about |
| from their parents/guardians. If you call the on campus | | | | any medications they are taking. Be sure they have all |
| health center knowing your student is there, laws | | | | the information they need to refill prescriptions. |
| dictate that staff cannot confirm that, or give you any | | | | • If your student is upset over another |
| other information about your student. The good news | | | | student’s health, have them contact a health |
| is that the staff usually understands parents’ | | | | counselor or often the campus will have an Office of |
| concerns and will be responsive as partners in | | | | Victim Assistance. Check the campus website for |
| protecting your student’s health. | | | | information. |
| This generation of college-age students generally has | | | | This can be scary stuff—but knowing the |
| been “well watched over.” You know your | | | | resources available you can help via telephone. For |
| child and his or her normal behaviors best. Stay in | | | | Cindy, her son suffered his first bi-polar episode at age |
| contact. During the communication time you have with | | | | 20. She contacted the local police. They determined he |
| your student, watch for changes in behavior such as | | | | needed continued observation at the local community |
| those listed at [ Does their behavior or expectations of | | | | hospital. By the time Cindy was able to get to her son |
| themselves seem unusual or extreme? In hindsight, | | | | six hours later, he was settled into a top local mental |
| Cindy realized her son was taking 21 credits and was | | | | health hospital. Today her son is successfully back in |
| not sleeping. Be realistic and be aware. Here are some | | | | school full time under the care of local mental health |
| actions to take if you think there may be a problem: | | | | professionals. There is a fine line between interfering |
| • Visit your student ASAP to determine for | | | | with your adult student’s life and being his or her |
| yourself what is going on. Is this a brief period of | | | | best advocate. Cindy’s suggestion is to watch |
| overwhelm or is there a deeper problem? If a mental | | | | for changes in behavior in your student and have a list |
| health issue is diagnosed, your student has options, | | | | of local contacts that can be counted on to assist in |
| including taking a medical leave of absence. Often, their | | | | getting the best help as quickly as possible. We |
| space at the college or university will be saved until | | | | suggest you do the same. |
| they are ready to return. Your student will need your | | | | |