In many ways, college offers a “blank slate” and is the perfect time and place to reinvent yourself. Between the independent living, opportunities to pursue your own interests, new people to meet, and different social scenes to become a part of, it may feel like you can leave your pre-college self behind and start over.
Despite these many ways to reinvent yourself, if you are living with a mental health disorder it’s important to remember that your condition still exists and can’t be ignored or erased as you work on establishing your “new” self.
In addition to opportunities for reinvention and self-discovery, campus life also comes with responsibilities and situations that can be overwhelming at times. Whether you are just starting your college career or returning to campus after being diagnosed, having a plan in place for how to manage your mental health disorder is a key part to setting yourself up for success.
Read “What’s Your Plan? College with a Mental Health Disorder” on the Mental Health America website to learn how to:
- Find out what mental health services your school offers
- Make a mental health plan
- Learn more about medications that you may be prescribed
- Find additional resources at your school (academic, nutrition and exercise, and social life)
- Keep in touch with people who usually support you
- Talk about your mental health disorder with peers on campus
Looking for a support group? You can contact your local Mental Health America affiliate to find out what groups are available in your area, or visit www.mentalhealthamerica.net/find-support-groups for a comprehensive listing of different support groups and websites for locating them. Online support groups can also be extremely helpful, such as Mental Health America’s community on Inspire. https://www.inspire.com.
Source: Mental Health America | What’s Your Plan? College with a Mental Health Disorder, https://www.mhanational.org/whats-your-plan-college-mental-health-disorder | © Copyright 2021 Mental Health America, Inc.
A screening can help you determine if you or someone you care about should contact a mental health professional. CHC teletherapy services are available now. Call or email our Care Managers at 650.688.3625 or careteam@chconline.org to set up a free 30-minute consultation appointment.
