Parents and loved ones can play an essential role in helping their students succeed in college. And we don’t mean supporting the epic battle to help them get into the “right” school. We can encourage our students to have a healthy attitude toward practicing mental wellness and self-care when they begin college. We can reinforce that their health is just as important as their resume.
A wholehearted message can be a game changer. Start by letting your student know you care about their mental health. We often forget to say these simple but profound messages.
We are always growing and changing and things aren’t set in stone. Remind them that we don’t all come pre-programed with mental wellness skills. Help them to believe it is possible to learn a set of skills that are helpful to live a healthier life, support our work, and help us feel better about ourselves.
Mental wellness skills will vary for each person. Inspire your student to discover what mental wellness skills work for them–just as they are discovering what academic courses they enjoy the most. Let them know there is not one right way to practice mental wellness skills.
It takes practice to get good at something, including healthier behaviors. Encourage your student to take the long view on trying new wellness strategies with a goal of trying something several times before deciding whether or not it’s helpful. And if they do conclude that this strategy isn’t a good fit, give them credit for giving it a thorough “try” and encourage them to try a new strategy.
Reinforce the general areas of wellness. When the time is appropriate, ask them about how things are going around physical self-care, managing their thoughts and emotions, building relationships, managing their time, and anything that is important to their identity. When you ask about their wellness, they will understand that more than just their report card is valued.
Good mental health care consists of many small-to-medium choices, all day, every day. There is no quick fix. But when we help our precious college students prioritize these choices and behaviors, our students have a greater chance of not just surviving college, but thriving.
