Your child is going away to college. It’s a big life change. For most kids, college marks the first time they’re off on their own, away from any kind of adult supervision and free to make their own choices.

Many students struggle with the transition. Mental health issues often appear for the first time during the college years, with the early 20s being the average age of onset. These issues may have already existed in high school or earlier, and are exacerbated by the pressures of college life.

Research by the American Psychological Association suggests 1 in 3 college freshmen around the world report a mental health disorder.

Mental health issues on campus have escalated in the last seven years. Between 2009 and 2015, there was a 30 percent increase in the number of students visiting counseling centers, according to a recent American College Health Association survey.

In 2017, nearly 40 percent of college students said that in the prior year, they had felt so depressed it was difficult for them to function, and 61 percent of students said they had felt overwhelming anxiety.

Students will often take formal leave from college due to mental health issues, so early intervention is a priority.

What can parents do to help their college student? Try these five tips:

1. Talk about mental health. Some students delay seeking help because of the mental health stigma or because they aren’t sure if their symptoms are serious enough. Talk to your college kid about warning signs of a mental health issue. Remind them that they can come to you anytime for help.
2. Stay on top of their grades. One warning sign of a mental health issue is a drop in grades, but you need to know about it when it happens. See if you can get access to view your college kid’s grades so you are aware right away if they begin to slip.
3. Check in with them. Check in with your college kid regularly, not just through text but through Skype or Facetime too, so you can see how they look. Visit your child during parents weekend or another time.
4. Talk about acting responsibility. College kids often pick up unhealthy habits that can be detrimental to their mental (and physical) health. First-year students in particular can get in over their heads. Some turn to alcohol or drugs to cope emotionally. Talk about the realities of binge drinking, drugs and partying.
5. Don’t ignore a high-risk mental health concern. If your child begins to experience any serious symptoms of mental illness such as suicidal thoughts or psychosis, take action. If you feel your child’s safety is at immediate risk, contact campus police or the administration.

Adjusting to college life can be difficult, but with the right information and support, your child can flourish. As parents, if you are aware of struggles early on, you can link your child with support on campus, such as advisors, tutors and therapists.

If you believe your college kid has a problem with alcohol, an eating disorder or any other issue, get them help. Early intervention is important to the recovery process.

Find support at Linden Oaks Behavioral Health.

Learn more from Healthy Driven Chicago:

Is your teen depressed?

Getting help for depression

Related blogs:

Never a reason: talking with your teen about depression

Binge drinking taken to a new level on college campuses

Your teen’s brain has some growing up to do