As high school and college students wrap up their spring semester and prepare for summer, now is an important time to check in on their mental health and think about how to have conversations about it.
This is especially important for college students, because the second annual Student Behavioral Health Report revealed a significant increase in self-reported mental or behavioral health concerns among college students compared to high school students.
According to the report, college students are self-reporting about 50 percent more anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts than high school students. For example, high school students reported that in the past year they or their classmates or friends had experienced anxiety or stress (35 percent), depression (20 percent), or suicidal thoughts (9 percent). For college students, self-reported experiences of anxiety increased to 55 percent, depression to 41 percent, and suicidal thoughts to 13 percent.
Importantly, the report found that many parents may not be aware of this change. For example, 41 percent of college students self-reported that they, their roommates, or friends had experienced depression in the past year, yet only 18 percent of parents reported that their college-aged children had experienced this. In contrast, parents of high school students reported perceptions that more closely matched the high school students’ self-reported experiences: 20 percent of students reported depression, and 15 percent of parents reported that their high school students had experienced this issue.
In honor of May’s Mental Health Awareness Month, here are four tips for proactively addressing young people’s mental health concerns.
Watch for warning signs: As students leave school for the summer or return from school, take stock of their mood and watch for warning signs of mental or behavioral health concerns. These can include constantly feeling sad or hopeless, feeling isolated from friends and family, trouble concentrating, worrying too much, changes in sleep or eating habits, extreme mood swings, or problems with alcohol or drug use.
Have the conversations early and often. According to the Student Behavioral Health Report, the more frequently your child’s mental health comes up in conversations, the more likely they are to perceive your tone and attitude as positive and take action to seek care. If you’re not sure how to lead the conversation, UnitedHealthcare offers conversation starter cards to help parents talk to their kids about mental health and spark conversations that end with one-liners. For example, try asking your child, “What can I do to be more supportive?” or “What are you most worried about right now?”
Talk to your doctor. Just as with any physical illness, it’s important to bring any concerns you have about your mental or behavioral health to a medical professional. For many people, their doctor will be the first point of contact and will be able to assess their symptoms and provide advice on next steps.
Familiarize yourself with resources. There may be a variety of resources available to you through your community or health plan, including help finding a quality mental health care provider, understanding your coverage, and options for virtual care and coaching. Many colleges also offer on-campus support services, 24/7 crisis support, virtual care, and access to self-care apps and wellness resources. Some student health plans also offer unlimited free virtual mental health visits for students.
By considering these tips, parents and adults can play a key role in improving the mental health issues many young people experience: If you or someone you know is distressed or in crisis, call or text 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline for 24-hour confidential support.
Dr. Donald Tavakoli serves as national medical director for behavioral health at UnitedHealthcare.
