Introduction to our Parent Guide to Understanding their Students’ Mental Health Challenges

Parents, primary caregivers and family members are often a students’ best supporters. They care deeply about their student, and they are invested in continuing to see this young person grow and thrive.

However, families can be caught unawares by their student’s mental health concerns. Nationwide, general education on mental health concerns lags behind other public health information.

This Parent and Family Guide is designed to help parents, primary caregivers, and families understand important things about depression and anxiety, the two most common mental health concerns among postsecondary students.

This guide was written for parents and caregivers of postsecondary students. But while it was written with this age range in mind, much of the content is applicable for high school parents and families.

Nothing in the guide should be interpreted as clinical advice. This is a parent-to-parent guide; it includes resources and information on how to find a counselor who is a good fit for the student.

View and download the Parent and Family Guide here or via the image above.