As a parent, though, you have some concerns. There are so many dangers for young people these days: a deadly substance misuse crisis, rising levels of anxiety and depression, eating disorders, suicide ideation, and a broken system that can't provide the support they need. Frankly, few teens or early 20-somethings are equipped to navigate these challenges alone.
That's why parents can't be too vigilant about preparing them for the (often rocky) road ahead, says student wellbeing activist David Magee.
"It's urgent to be clear with your children about what they might experience or encounter at college," says Magee, author of the upcoming book Things Have Changed: What Every Parent (and Educator) Should Know About the Student Mental Health and Substance Misuse Crisis. "The stakes are too high for them to 'wing it.' They need a strong foundation to keep them healthy and strong and happy."
In other words, they need to shore up the habits, practices, and mindsets to help them maintain their mental and physical health, sidestep dangers like substance misuse, and create the sustainable joy all young people crave, says Magee. Parents can guide them in developing a "toolbox" that will help them thrive, keep them safe, and possibly even save their lives.
This is a deeply personal mission for Magee. In 2012, his son Hudson nearly died from a drug overdose at his fraternity house. Thankfully, Hudson made a full recovery. But in 2013, Magee found the body of his firstborn son, William, after he died from an accidental drug overdose a story he shares in his award-winning book Dear William: A Father's Memoir of Addiction, Recovery, Love, and Loss.
Magee's goal is to save lives and spare other families and communities from these kinds of tragedies. This is why he founded the William Magee Institute for Student Wellbeing and the William Magee Center for AOD and Wellness Education at the University of Mississippi.
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