Remember the buzz of anxiety and excitement that you felt on your child’s first day of kindergarten? As your student prepares to head off to college, that feeling is back again, except the anxiety has probably grown as much as your child has.
Your teen has a million questions and ideas about their new, independent college life – but most teens are probably not thinking about how they’ll stay healthy. As they prepare to launch, they’re going to need some support and guidance from parents as they begin to take more adult responsibility for their own health. Here’s how you can help.
Make appointments with your child’s providers before they head off to school
Before your teen departs for school, schedule a final well-child appointment with their primary care provider to make sure they’re healthy and up to date on all their vaccinations.
A primary care checkup is also an opportunity to review your child’s medical records with their provider and discuss ongoing care for any chronic conditions, especially if your teen has been relying on you to keep track of things for them.
It’s also a good idea to have your child’s vision tested while they’re here. You want to ensure they’ll be able to see their professors at the front of larger classrooms, as well as their homework.
Similarly, a trip to the dentist will ensure they won’t be suffering toothaches during midterms from neglected cavities.
Continuing care once they leave home
Many college students schedule routine medical visits when they return home during breaks, but if yours has a medical condition that requires more frequent treatment, regular check-ins with a doctor, or medication management, help them locate a new provider on campus or nearby, before they get distracted with schoolwork.
Similarly, if your child is currently seeing a mental health therapist, it’s important to continue this care throughout the school year. Ask if their current therapist offers virtual appointments or if they don’t, request a referral to another provider in the area or to the school’s mental health center.
Know where to find healthcare resources on campus
Before dropping them off at school, make sure your student is aware of their campus’ health resources for physical or mental health needs.
Once you arrive, help them find the health center and learn how to access the treatments or services they may need, especially if they have a chronic health condition such as asthma, diabetes, or depression.
Let them know where to go when they need to refill prescriptions, what to do in an emergency, and in what circumstances it’s appropriate to call an ambulance. Provide your child with a copy of their insurance card in case they need it to access healthcare services.
Many campuses also provide mental health counseling specifically for the types of challenges commonly faced by new students (such as stress, social challenges, anxiety, and depression).
Before leaving for school, your teen should have conversations with a trusted adult about:
- Safer sex and consent
- What to do if someone overdoses or drinks to dangerous excess; and
- Routine health topics like finding healthy food in a campus dining hall and making time for sleep and exercise.
Your teen may be more receptive to their medical care provider’s guidance on healthy choices than warnings from you at this particular point in time.
School supplies should include health supplies
Shopping for a new laptop and a dorm fridge might be more fun, but parents should also ensure that their student leaves home with a basic emergency medical kit and multiple months’ supply of their prescription medications. Make sure they know how to use these supplies and that they understand the correct dosages for their prescriptions and any over the counter medications they take regularly.
Provide the school with a copy of their immunization records to verify that your student is compliant with school requirements.
In addition, consider providing your child with an overdose kit – rather than encouraging drug use, you could help them save another student’s life. Narcan nasal spray is now available over-the-counter at pharmacies, drug stores, convenience stores, and online.
Last but not least, pack preventive other health supplies such as:
- Over-the-counter remedies like acetomiophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen, Benadryl, and antibiotic ointment
- Combination Covid/ flu tests
- Surgical or N95 masks, and
- Vitamins and supplements
Teens are more likely to use these supplies if they don’t have to buy them themselves.
Balance parental support and your child’s independence
To create a healthy balance between healthy support and allowing your child to exercise independence, experts recommend setting boundaries before your student leaves for school. Make agreements about how often you will visit or call. Establish a routine that works for the whole family, whether that is a check-in call once a day, once a week, or another time frame.
Also, reassure your student that you or a family member is always available to them if they feel homesick or scared, or don’t know how to deal with a new problem. Many students can benefit from the reminder that independence doesn’t have to mean isolation, and needing help is not failure.
As you launch your child, preparing for the unexpected is a parent’s job. But having prepared, it’s safe to expect the best for them at college. Let your child know you love them and trust them to do well. You’ve both worked hard to reach this point, and you’re all going to be fine as they launch into their new chapter as a young adult.
If your student needs a well-child checkup before they leave for college, request an appointment with WWMG Family Medicine today.