From deadlines on assignments to trying to study for final exams, there’s a lot of stress that comes with being a high school or college student. It can weigh heavily on a student to the point where they feel they are under a mountain of expectations, and unable to find the light at the end of the tunnel. Here are some ways that you can help the student in your life address their struggles, and build back their mental health.
Consider therapy sessions.
Students handle stress differently, and that’s why they may feel alone in how they are dealing with assignments and projects. They may also feel like professors, friends, and family members may not understand what they’re going through. Intensive outpatient therapy programs, also known as IOP treatment, help teens and young adults understand and successfully overcome their
mental health struggles.
IOP is designed for young adults in need of more support than just a weekly individual therapy session. Intensive outpatient therapy typically lasts six to ten weeks, and can even be done in a group therapy setting. Each week, patients engage in 9-11 hours of treatment, which can now be done from the comfort and safety of their home thanks to the telehealth treatment option. Clients and family members are able to access quality care to help students of any age deal with stress.
Seek outlets for their workload.
Beyond individual therapy as an outlet, some helping hands can support a student to feel like they aren’t alone in getting their work done. High school students, for example, may seek the help of a college advisor if they feel overwhelmed with applications for school and required essays or other paperwork. Family members should look up “college admission advisor near me” to find counseling in the area to help a student prepare for the next step in their education.
A college advisor can actually triple a student’s chance of getting into their dream college or university. Services can range from college counseling, help with personal essay editing, and assistance to stay on top of university deadlines. New clients work with advisors to garner an understanding of their personal goals and what they are seeking to achieve in quest of a college degree – some even support at a grad school level.
Keep an eye out for substance use.
In some cases, students cope with stress by relying on different substances. Keep an eye out for forms of substance abuse, ranging from alcohol abuse to excessive smoking and even the use of illicit drugs. This dependence does far more harm than good, and recognizing the problem is the first step towards correcting the behavior. While sobriety isn’t exactly mandated, healthier behaviors in terms of diet and habit will be far more beneficial for a student to achieve their educational goals. However, addicts may need inpatient programs or even outpatient services like Alcoholics Anonymous to help address what’s at the root of the stress and these academic troubles.
Schedule time to relax.
Student stress has been amplified with more work over the years at almost every grade level. The COVID-19 pandemic only further exaggerated this stress. While people have different outlets for stress, it’s important to afford the time to relax in a way that meets a student’s specific needs. This could be as simple as stepping away from the screens and going for a walk or even planning a trip to act as a reset. Group settings work for some students to share similar struggles within the learning process, while others may benefit more from time with family members that they are missing out on because of deadlines on projects. What’s most important of all is letting a student know that they don’t have to go it alone.
