College Life inside the Box
Mom and dad have shown up on the first day of school all smiles for Freshman Week . Happily completed all the necessary forms during intake and orientation . Walked side by side on the campus tour and gladly administered that embarrassing kiss . And as orientation comes to a close , parents get into their car ready to take the return trip home and anxiety sets in . The knowledge of knowing that from this point on the student is on their own begins to threaten the parent role .
Before long , they will need to coordinate schedules , register for classes , figure-out work study , and choose an organization to affiliate with . In a short while , they will be learning to juggle the campus environment , joining study groups to help with homework , earn and keep up their grades and make new friends . What happens when they can ’ t ?
According to continuing research , poor health factors , which include lack of proper nutrition , irregular or inappropriate sleep patterns , lack of sufficient exercise and stress , are the leading causes of depression among college students ( Kerr ). The pull to engage in risky behaviors such as binge drinking , illegal and prescription substance abuse and unsafe sexual practices also contributes greatly to a student ’ s depression . Parents are no longer there to hold the students hand or to ask how their day went . This lack of communication and interaction leaves the majority of college students to go undiagnosed and untreated for depression , which in some cases leads to suicide . Not only does the act of suicide take the life of the young gifted , talented student , it also takes the legacy of the family , leaving in its wake the devastation of being unaware .
The National Institute of Mental Health reports that in the United States , 8.3 percent of students aged 18 – 25 have thought about suicide , with suicide being the second leading cause of death for students between the ages of 15 – 34 . Despite the fact that the majority of college campuses have adopted the “ I don ’ t want to talk about it ” culture , there is also a social stigma associated with seeking professional help . College students are extremely hesitant to speak with a professional and are even more so reluctant to speak with their parents . Cicely Evans , a licensed professional counselor at Southern University at Baton Rouge states , “ The hardest part is getting students through the door . Many are afraid of the stigma attached to mental health treatment . Students do not want to be labeled as crazy or weak ” ( Neally ).
As parents , it is still our responsibility to ensure that our children remain safe and unharmed . But how do we do that when they are so far away ( at college )?
New Friends . New Community
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