Earlier this year, The Jed Foundation and the American Psychiatric Foundation launched one of the newest mental health resources on the Web, The Transition Year. Recently, I was able to talk with Courtney Knowles, the Executive Director of The Jed Foundation, to get the skinny on this one-stop shop and why its contents are so beneficial for both students and parents before, during, and even after the college years.
There’s a never-ending line at the bookstore. Posters announcing football schedules and Greek rush events are posted every couple of feet. Meal cards are being swiped every few minutes and music is blasting down the hall from the room where two longtime roommates are, once again, haggling over who’s in charge of buying the toilet paper.
Yep, it’s that time of year again: Class is officially in session for most colleges and universities throughout the nation.
For many teens, this means leaving the nest for the first stage of adulthood or catching up with friends and sharing summer adventure stories. For many parents, it’s a time mixed with bittersweet pride and, yes, a bit of breath holding.