Parents - Student-first Telehealth Provider Blog - TimelyCare

Parents Trust Colleges More than Students for COVID-19 Safety, New Survey by TimelyCare Finds

Chris Clark — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 00:01:00 +0000

Contact: Katie Neal, katie.neal@timely.md, 336-662-3080

When it comes to keeping college students safe from COVID-19, parents put considerably more faith in schools than they do their own children, according to a new survey by TimelyCare, a telehealth company that specializes in higher education. However, parents remain divided about the academic quality and ROI of the education their students will receive this year.

Key findings from the survey fielded last week include:

Just over half (54%) of all parents say their students’ colleges or universities have made health and safety their top priority when determining plans for the fall semester.
At the same time, half (50%) of parents whose students will take classes in person or via a hybrid model say they believe a coronavirus outbreak is likely on their campus (that number jumps to 68% in Florida). Less than half (46%) of these parents thought their campuses would be prepared to handle an outbreak.
Parents are just as concerned about their students’ future job or internship opportunities as they are that their child may become sick with COVID-19 (48% each). Those numbers are significantly higher in California (70% for jobs, 57% for infection), where many students will take classes exclusively online.
The top three things that would boost parents’ confidence in the ability of campuses to support their students as the pandemic continues are 1) on-campus enforcement of social distancing, 2) regular COVID-19 testing and 3) access to 24/7 telehealth resources for physical and mental health.

Parents’ confidence dips when it comes to student behavior and responsibility:

40% of parents do not trust that college students will follow public health guidance such as social distancing, wearing masks and limiting gatherings to small groups.
60% of parents worry students will not follow public health guidance when administrators, faculty and staff are not around to enforce such safety measures.

“The coronavirus has amplified parents’ desire for administrative oversight and more student support services. Now more than ever, parents want colleges and universities to take care of their students,” said Luke Hejl, CEO of TimelyCare. “Resuming classes this fall includes anticipating and addressing the concerns, needs and demands of students and their families. Campus leaders can count on TimelyCare to take the weight of accessing medical and mental health care off parents’ worry list by offering all-in-one telehealth solutions wherever students may be.”

The survey provided additional insights from parents:

Mental health: 71% indicate at least moderate concern for their student’s mental health, and nearly half (46%) are concerned or very concerned. A previous survey by TimelyCare found that an overwhelming majority (85%) of college students continue to experience increased stress and/or anxiety as a result of COVID-19.
ROI: 40% of parents are concerned or very concerned with the value of the financial investment made in their students’ education this fall (46% of parents with students taking online classes only vs. 38% of those of hybrid or in-person learners).
Academics: When it comes to the quality of education they believe their children will receive this semester, parents are fairly split overall, though differences emerge by delivery model. Nearly half (48%) of parents of students in online-only programs are concerned or very concerned compared to just over one-third (36%) of those with students taking hybrid or in-person classes.
Communication: Over half (54%) are satisfied with the COVID-19-related communications from their students’ schools.

TimelyCare is the only student-first telehealth provider that offers a complete care solution for campus health, with on-demand medical care, on-demand mental health counseling, appointment-based counseling, psychiatric support and health coaching programs designed to meet the exact needs of any college or university.

About the Survey

From July 27-29, 2020, TimelyCare conducted a nationwide survey of 591 parents and legal guardians of students enrolled at two-and-four-year colleges and universities regarding the impact of COVID-19 on fall semester plans.

About TimelyCare

Focused on improving the health of student populations, TimelyCare offers universities and colleges a comprehensive, custom program centered around telehealth. TimelyCare’s campus-wide solution gives students one point of contact–anytime, anywhere–to get quality care and immediate treatment for medical or mental health concerns from board certified physicians and licensed counselors. TimelyCare’s telehealth programs optimize clinic resources and support clinic staff in delivering quality care to the right students at the right times. Contact TimelyCare for more information.

The post Parents Trust Colleges More than Students for COVID-19 Safety, New Survey by TimelyCare Finds appeared first on TimelyCare.

Parent’s Perspective: Talking to Your New College Student About Mental Health

Luke Hejl — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 22:30:35 +0000

As a parent, getting your child ready for college and life out in the world is a job that never ends. Even after the computer is purchased, the car is packed and the dorm decor is complete, parents have an entirely different set of physical and emotional tools to pass on to their children.

As Dawn Rendell, assistant dean of students for the Barrett Honors College at Arizona State University states, “Kids need to know that college is going to be overwhelming for everyone at some point. The worst thing is when your child calls out of the blue and he’s crying over the phone and you don’t have the answer.”

Anne Vilen writes in her blog about her concerns as a parent of two, watching her kids find their way into adulthood. Vilen knew that with a family history of anxiety, depression and schizophrenia, she needed to talk frankly about mental health with her son before he headed off to a new chapter in life.

Rendell agrees and suggests that “parents share the facts about mental health with students ahead of time, engage in a conversation and explore the college’s resources together so that both know who to contact if a crisis comes calling.”

According to the National Alliance on Mental Health, college students are faced with these staggering statistics when it comes to mental health:

Almost 73% of students living with a mental health condition experienced a mental health crisis on campus.
7% of college students have “seriously considered suicide” during the past year. (Suicide is the third leading cause of death on college campuses.)
Half of the students who stop attending college for mental health reasons never sought help with mental health services or support.
Most college students report that they are likely to tell a friend or their parents before or instead of seeking help from a professional on their own.

With that knowledge in mind, Vilen suggests that parents take necessary steps, like the ones listed below, to set up their children to be successful college students.

- Encourage your student to join clubs, organizations or campus activities that involve in person participation. This helps to promote emotional well-being right from the start, along with appropriate sleep, healthy eating and regular exercise.

- Remind your student that it’s ok to ask for help! Jenna Scott, a clinical psychologist with the Jed Foundation (promotes emotional health and suicide prevention among college students) recommends that parents and students discuss common stumbling blocks in the first semester of college. After the discussion, together identify campus resources and key personnel should the student need to talk.

- Paying attention to your student and knowing when to intervene is imperative. Vilen’s daughter Annalee, who was a former residence hall director states, “It’s a roommate or a parent or a professor who starts an inquiry about a student’s well-being. Parents need to know that sudden anxiety or depression might be a sign that some trauma has happened. If you notice that, you need to really listen and help that person get the support he or she needs.” Scott notes to watch for these signs throughout the first six weeks of school: a sad tone in voice, little sleep, no mention of friends or social activities, and even a sudden change in the frequency of calls or texts.

Finally, make a plan. The National Alliance on Mental Illness provides a great plan of action for parents and students to follow together. This plan includes decisions on medications if needed, an agreed upon list of contact numbers, the college’s policies on leaves of absence and more.

When it comes to health — especially mental health — students are still learning. That’s why TimelyCare is focused on the unique needs of students and the campuses who care for them. Our providers are interested in and specifically trained on student health.

Jan Hall, Ph.D., TimelyCare’s executive director of mental health says, “Our intake mental health counselors are trained to consult with students regarding immediate concerns, including crisis management, as well as emotional, cognitive or behavioral concerns. I look for compassion, collaboration and expertise with our intake and licensed telemental health counselors.”

The post Parent’s Perspective: Talking to Your New College Student About Mental Health appeared first on TimelyCare.