NAMI-GC College Outreach Program
Questions about NCCOP? Want to help? Contact nccop@namigc.org.
For more information, referrals, support, and education about serious mental illness, call NAMI of Greater Chicago at (312) 563-0445, or visit the NAMI of Greater Chicago website, namigc.org.
Parents are uniquely situated to recognize warning signs of mental illness in their child and to do something about it. Many parents continue to play a vital role in the lives of their college-aged children. Parents may be the first ones to notice a change in coping skills or behaviors that may signal a problem. Your knowledge about your child before college gives you a valuable perspective on their current issues and situations.
Identifying the existence of a mental illness may be difficult at first, either because the behavior has changed slowly over time, or because you may think some of the signs and symptoms of a mental illness are “just a phase”--they may be, but they also may not be. Furthermore, you may not know how to the approach the issue, or how to start seeking help.
An important thing to remember is that mental illnesses are like any physical illnesses that affect a body's organs; mental illnesses simply affect the brain, which affects a person’s moods, thoughts or behaviors. If your child broke his/her leg, you would call 911—if your child starts experiencing symptoms you do not understand, or are learning may be symptoms of mental illness, you need to contact people who can help your child: mental health professionals, other family members or friends, campus administrators, etc.
You know your child best. When you see changes in your child’s functioning, it is better to do something and learn more about what’s going on in your child’s life, than assume the problem will go away. If the symptoms you are noticing are impairing your child’s ability to lead a satisfying and productive life, then approach your child and let them know you are concerned and contact a mental health professional immediately. Your suggestion to consider counseling can be very influential for your child.
Keep in mind, even if a problem goes away, it could recur: symptoms of mental illnesses are often cyclical, varying in severity over time. Also keep in mind that symptoms may overlap from one illness to another; therefore, do not discount the possibility of any specific illness until a mental health professional has been consulted.