Information for Parents

When should I be concerned about my daughter’s/son’s mental health?

Students in distress often show some signs and symptoms that family and friends may have the opportunity to observe. In general, these signs will be a change from their “normal” or usual behavior. If you notice any of these signs, please talk with your daughter/son and consider the help of a mental health professional:

• Noted isolation from friends and family

• Marked change in appearance

• Drop in grades and/or erratic class attendance

• Increased substance use/abuse

• Excessive self-criticism

• Noted decrease in energy and motivation

• Inability to think and concentrate

• Traumatic changes in personal relationships, such as parental divorce, breakup of romantic relationship, death of a loved one

• Violent behavior or threats of violence

• Reference to suicide or self-harm

As a parent, you may feel overwhelmed or overburdened by your student’s problems. Consider that this feeling may be an accurate indication that your son or daughter may benefit from professional help.

What does Mount St. Mary’s University Counseling Services provide?

The Counseling Center provides free, confidential services for Mount St. Mary’s students, including individual and group counseling, walk-in consultations, emergency psychological services and psycho-educational outreach programming. 

Students seek counseling for a variety of reasons, including relationship concerns, difficulties with roommates, loneliness, isolation, emotional difficulties including depression and anxiety, eating problems and identity issues. Normally these problems are relatively temporary and students recover fairly quickly; however, if the intensity of persistence of any of the problems makes it hard for your student to function effectively or if your student is experiencing suicidal thoughts or feelings, it is advisable to encourage your student to come to the Counseling Center right away. It usually works best to allow your son or daughter to take the initiative in accessing our services – if you are the one who calls and makes an appointment, your son or daughter may be less likely to follow through.

Confidentiality

The Counseling Services staff must adhere to professional ethical standards and to state and local laws relating to confidentiality. These standards and laws prevent us from speaking with concerned parents about their student’s contact with the service unless we have the student’s written permission to do so.  Consequently, if a son or daughter were to tell a parent that he or she is seeing a counselor and the parent would like to be able to talk to the counselor, the student must sign a release of information that will enable the staff to discuss the situation with the parent.  If you need to talk to us, we are available at 301-447-5288.