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When to Ask for Help for First-Year Students and Caregivers

Published Date
Author Santiago Serna with content from The Jed Foundation (JED)


 

Disclaimer: If you or someone you know is struggling or looking for more mental health resources, visit the JED website.


First-year students on a college campus will often not know when they need help. They’ll develop this idea that they must do everything by themselves since they already have a lot of responsibility on their plate when starting the semester. But what these students should know is that it’s perfectly fine to ask for help. A lot of students have challenges that they can’t solve on their own while in college, and it’s often up to the student to ask for help. McGraw Hill has partnered with The Jed Foundation (JED) to bring awareness to mental health resources. This video addresses the topic of help in the college environment, with some steps below that students can take to find help.

1. Resources made for helping students

First-year college students will have lots of questions they’ll want to have answered before they start classes. For this reason, it's important for students to know what resources are available to them, such as a student center, a department of financial aid, etc.

2. Signs that a student should ask for help

The university environment is known for its challenges and distractions. This can be problematic when students are struggling. To resolve this issue, caregivers and educators can recognize if a student is having challenges through a few signs. Sleeping for too long, not going to class, or even feeling overwhelmed are good indicators that a student may need help.

3. How students can ask for help

Some students may have trouble coming up with ways to ask for help, but it doesn’t have to be that complicated. Students can form a study group with their classmates, attend tutoring sessions, reach out to someone in the counseling or student health office, or simply talk to their professor.

It may seem easier and less troubling for students to take matters into their own hands to figure it out themselves, but it may cause more trouble for students who need help. Never forget that there's no shame in asking for help.

For even more videos covering mental health topics, check out JED’s video playlist.