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GoodLifeFamilyMag.com JULY AUGUST 2015 49 www.halfofus.com The Jed Foundation and mtvU created Half of Us to initiate a public dialogue to raise awareness about the prevalence of mental health issues and connect students to the appropriate resources to get help.View videos featuring young people and celebrities talking about their struggles and how they overcame them. www.ulifeline.org ULifeline is an anonymous confidential online resource center where youll find information on mental health resources at your college along with a self-test for mental health. HEADED TO COLLEGE DONT FORGET TO PACK THESE TIPS. WEBSITES FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS www.thetrevorproject.org TheTrevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian gay bisexual transgender and questioning LGBTQ young people ages 13 to 24. www.activeminds.org Active Minds is changing the culture on campuses and in the community by providing information leadership opportunities and advocacy training for the next generation. TIPS FOR PARENTS E-MAIL OR TEXT YOUR STUDENT. Allow your student to be on hisher own. As students are adjusting a call may seem in- trusive. Find a balance with your child and see what will work for both of you. You might want to have a conversation be- fore your student leaves to create shared expectations. TALK OPENLY ABOUT ALCOHOL DRUGS SEX AND OTH- ER INFLUENCES. Parents should have open conversations about these issues and talk about new responsibilities as an adult. You want to keep the lines of communication open. This will open the door for your student to come to you if needed. DISCUSS FINANCES IN ADVANCE. Talk about budgeting and how to spend money appropriately. Keep in mind cred- it card companies advertise to students with tantalizing offers. Make sure that your student is aware of all the charges that come with having a credit card. DONT QUIZ YOUR CHILD ABOUT ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE. Instead ask your student what she is learning. Allow students to grow academically in their own time this will help them find a major that best suits them. Class performance is known to drop in the first semester in college. Understand that this is normal. Dont make a huge deal about grades unless theyre being completely blown off. ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILD TO SEEK OUTSIDE RESOURCES. Remind your child that its not a sign of weakness to seek out campus counseling services or community resources. This also applies to classroom struggles. Students can seek help through a professor or an outside tutor. ENJOY HAVING AN EMPTY NEST. If you feel a sense of loss dont dwell on it. This is a struggle not only for the student but for the parents as well. Make sure that you are practicing self-care. This might be an opportunity to revisit old hob- bies or discover new ones. NEED TO TALK Lifeline 1-800-273-8255 A 24-hour crisis hotline that will help you connect with mental health resources in your area. Trevor Project 1-866-488-7386 A 24-hour toll-free confidential crisis and sui- cide prevention helpline for lesbian gay bi- sexual transgender and questioning youth. goodTO KNOW