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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I've been following this thread with interest and finally decided to post. As a parent of two college students, and as someone who works directly with college students with mental health problems (I'm a psychologist) there really is no easy answer, and I share the anxiety a lot of you feel about the pressures facing our kids in college today.

My older son lost a high school classmate freshman year to an overdrinking episode. If you had told me this boy would binge drink to the point of dying in his dorm room I would have never believed it. He was a great kid, likeable and intelligent. I knew his family, and they are lovely people. There were never any signs to them that their son was at risk. It was a tragedy. I can tell you about so many other kids who did the same thing as this boy but they were just lucky that nothing more severe than a massive hangover occurred the next day. Most lived to learn from their mistakes; this boy didn't get that chance. Why? I don't have a reason.

I work almost daily with college students experiencing thoughts of suicide and struggling with anxiety and depression. Some have made attempts, and many gave some sign to friends, a therapist, teacher or coach, and were hospitalized. Most, although certainly not all, recover and go one to better days in their lives. They learn to regulate their emotions better, to exercise self-compassion and not expect themselves to be perfect. They become more emotionally resilient. Others do not. Every college mental health professional has heart-breaking stories of kids who didn't make it. Fortunately suicide is still the great exception and not the normal outcome, but it happens.

As a parent I try my best to know what my kids are going through, to be involved in their internal worlds and their external lives. But I know they keep me in the dark about many of their private struggles. They know my husband and I are here to listen, but I've encouraged them to talk to someone else, including a therapist, if there are things they cannot discuss with us. I pray a lot. It is hard to let go, but I try my best to do it while providing a safe place to land if things get really tough. I think that's all we as parents can do.[/quote]
Thanks for this.  I've found this entire topic sobering.[/quote]
Agreed.  And nice to be back on topic.  Hope it stays so.  [/quote]

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