As my daughter and countless other teens prepare to leave their protected nests for college, I started to think about all of the topics I have discussed with her in the past and the topics I have yet to cover about life as a young adult. Though I readily admit I am a worry-wart, I am also quite pragmatic and believe that the more you know before, the more likely you are to make good choices when faced with difficult challenges. With that in mind, check out my 2018 college prep guide.
At this point of the year, most teens know where they will be attending college in the fall. Parents are paying housing deposits, setting up payment plans, and readying their minds for the departure of their once-little baby boys or girls. However, in the midst of that excitement, please do not forget that colleges will require an updated physical and documentation of immunizations. Proof of immunizations against MMR, Varicella, and Menactra are just a few that are generally recommended.
Furthermore, now is a great time to start the HPV (Human Papillomavirus) series if not previously immunized against it. Even though numbers do not lie, many parents still cannot accept that their “innocent” children will one day have sex. This disbelief is one of the reasons given for not consenting to the vaccine. For your information, these “innocent” children will not only have sex but many will have multiple partners.
Speaking of sex, one of my favorite topics to discuss with teens, it is important to continue to reinforce the concept of safe sex. Simply put, naked penises should never be in the vagina or anus. Sexually transmitted infections are quite common on university campuses. Just because she is cute and makes good grades does not mean that her vaginal fluids are not teaming with organisms like Trichomonas. Let’s not forget about the HPV virus that can cause cervical or oral cancer or the Darth Vader of all viruses, HIV. In the paraphrased words of the Queen B, “If you like it then you should have put a condom on it!”
When discussing sex, you cannot forget the relationships that alcohol and drug use play. Underage drinking is a major problem on and off campus. Many Greek organizations even use excessive drinking in pledging activities. Being intoxicated opens up a host of other issues, like driving while under the influence and sexual assault. When looking at the literature, many of the rapes that occurred with college-aged adults were associated with excessive alcohol either by the perpetrator or the victim.
An additional important point to remember is that a person cannot consent to sex if they are intoxicated. Therefore, if your son has sex with his partner who is drunk, she could later say that she did not give consent and he is then possibly facing rape allegations. Back in the day, no meant no. But today, you need to be certain that yes means yes.
My final piece of advice is concerning mental health. When I think back on my first year of college, no one ever talked to me about what to do if I got overwhelmed or started to feel depressed. Was it just assumed that I would be ok?
With the rising number of young people reporting feelings of depression and anxiety, we cannot afford to leave such important discussions off the table. Every year college campuses are reporting suicides or suicide attempts from bright, young people with promising futures. We need to prepare these young adults by sharing resources for whom to contact when their mental health seems compromised. They need to know that help is available and that they are not alone.
I am extremely excited for these young people leaving for college. But instead of talking about how they will decorate their dorm rooms, let’s talk about some substantive issues that will help them thrive and survive.
Denise Hooks-Anderson, M.D., is assistant professor at SLUCare Family Medicine. Email yourhealthmatters@stlamerican.com.
