As winter break approaches, college students are returning home for much-needed rest. Many will retreat to their rooms to recharge, while others may rush to reconnect with friends, even bypassing the open arms of their parents. College life is demanding, and most students develop coping skills to manage the semester's accumulated stress. For some, however, academic, social, and independent-living pressures can feel overwhelming, triggering new mental health or substance-use concerns or exacerbating existing vulnerabilities.
"My ex-boyfriend killed himself. My friend who goes to the same college called to tell me. I knew he was feeling depressed when I broke up with him last month, but he never mentioned wanting to kill himself. He was seeing a psychiatrist and said he was starting to feel better. What if the breakup triggered this? I feel like it's my fault."
Most students, when they're struggling mid-semester, are feeling overwhelmed but don't actually need advice or solutions. This goes against our instinct as parents-we want to solve the problem and eradicate their pain. Don't do it. They already know what to do; they're just struggling to do it. This is where hard, messy lessons occur. Instead, validate how they're feeling. Don't agree with them; just acknowledge how hard this time is for them. Listen with the intent of understanding rather than solving.
The study found that many university students have considered suicide, with 47 percent of participants experiencing suicidal thoughts at some point in their lifetime and 30 percent experiencing suicidal thoughts within the 12 months preceding the survey. In addition, 14 percent had made a specific plan in the 12 months before the survey, and 2.3 percent attempted suicide in the 12 months before the survey.