5 Signs Your College Student Child Needs Mental Health Help

College is a challenging period in the lives of our children. It’s a huge change and most college students feel completely lost at the beginning.

In addition, there’s a lot of pressure when it comes to studying, taking exams, managing projects, and getting on the list of top students. It can be overwhelming, stressful, and confusing.

It’s no wonder some students simply can’t cope with it all and develop some kind of mental health issue!

As parents, we can try and prevent that from happening, but sometimes it’s simply inevitable. That’s why we need to keep our eyes wide open. If we notice any sign of our child suffering or is in need of mental health help, we need to react.

To help you notice those signs, we’ve put together a list of 5 signs of mental health problems you may spot.

5 Worst Mental Health Symptoms Of College Students

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1. Sleeping Disorders

Every healthy individual needs a regular good night’s sleep to be able to face each new day filled with positive energy and motivation.

Regular sleep is a sign of stable mental health and is essential for being productive, efficient, and in a good mood.

Therefore, if you notice that your college student child has any kind of a sleeping problem, it may be a sign of mental instability or a mental health problem.

In case, sleep deprivation is a matter of an overwhelming amount of academic work, the solution may be on the list of quality writing helpers.

Sleeping disorders come in all shapes and forms:

Lack Of Sleep (Insomnia)

If your child has trouble falling asleep and staying asleep he might have this problem. In addition, he might be feeling tired right after he gets out of bed.

Extreme Sleepiness

If your child has trouble focusing on any task, feels drowsy and sleepy all the time, and sometimes doesn’t want to get out of bed, it’s another form of a sleeping disorder.

If you notice an unhealthy sleeping pattern with your child, have a word with them and see how can you solve this problem together. Try finding the source of the problem and find a way to help them remove it.

2. Substance Abuse

During college years, many students spend a lot of time partying. We’re all aware that at some point they’ll consume alcohol, and most of them will even try out different drugs.

However, many students won’t do this for fun. On the contrary, they’ll turn to substance abuse to avoid coping with problems, forget about the pressure they’re feeling, and get lost.

This form of substance abuse can lead to alcohol and drug addiction, which further leads to even more serious health issues.
Therefore, it’s important that we look for signs of substance abuse and detect them if they exist:

  • A decrease in academic performance
  • New social circles
  • Excessive partying
  • Mood swings
  • Changes in behavior

Make sure to notice any of the signs, and react immediately.

3. Eating Disorders

College years are an extremely sensitive period for developing an eating disorder, and many college students face this problem. However, most of them won’t admit it or won’t find it alarming and worrying.

This problem is usually developed due to a poor body image and wrong perceptions about food.

Some of the most common signs of an eating disorder are:

  • Constant complaints about weight
  • Obsessing about the amount of food we eat
  • Skipping meals
  • Binge eating
  • Excessive exercise
  • The shame of eating in public

If any of these symptoms become frequent and re-occurring, you need to approach the problem. They may be hiding a much bigger issue, such as anorexia or bulimia.

Either try solving it yourself, or ask for help from resources such as the Academy for Eating Disorders.

4. Depression

One of the most serious mental health issues is taking a toe on college students all over. It’s a matter that needs to be approached carefully and with a lot of support, or else it may develop further.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, depression is the most common health problem for college students.

There can be different symptoms, and may even differ based on the age or sex of the person suffering from it. Here are the most common symptoms of depression:

  • Constantly feeling sad, anxious, or being in a bad mood
  • Losing interest in the things you used to like
  • The feeling of loneliness, helplessness, or worthlessness
  • Decrease in energy
  • Irritability
  • Guilt

In addition, depression can be the cause of the above mentioned mental health issues such as substance abuse, or sleeping disorders.

Students facing this problem need immediate help and the first step is for you, as a parent, to talk to them. Then consider different options of treating it and dealing with it.

5. Anxiety

Many people tend to get confused when asked about the difference between anxiety and depression. Anxiety is something we all feel at a certain moment in our lives: the feeling of unease, fear, and worry.

However, college students might develop an anxiety disorder and start experiencing it on a daily basis because of constant pressure due to an ever-growing number of college tasks that can be easily dealt with thanks to essay writing companies.

Here’s how anxiety is manifested:

  • Sudden attacks of fear, panic, or terror
  • Increased heartbeat
  • Unreasonable thoughts
  • Sweating
  • Muscle pain and tension
  • Upset stomach

Note that it’s not alarming if any of the symptoms occur rarely. However, if you notice the symptoms to be frequent and re-occurring, make sure to address the issue.

Final Thoughts

College students are prone to developing a mental health issue, due to their lifestyles, the age they’re at, and the surroundings they’re in. As a parent, you need to try and notice the signs of a mental health issue with your child, and ensure they get the right help.

To prevent the mental health problem from happening, give them your unconditional love and all the emotional support you can. The rest is up to them.


1 thought on “5 Signs Your College Student Child Needs Mental Health Help”

  1. Hi! That was quite relatable since I’m a college student. No wonder that being a college student almsost each one of us has faced some kind of mental illness maybe not the chronic ones but atleast the acute ones.
    I think being simply more vocal about it would help in tackling these issues. Should have mentioned it before but just got carried away😅, Good Article it is!💯

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