Counselling, mental health and well-being

Check out some ideas on how you might be able to help your student with their transition to college.

• Attend a Parent and Supporter session during Academic Orientation. When students go to their program sessions, parents and supporters are invited to remain in the welcome space to connect with support services and ask questions. Learn more about Academic Orientation here.
• Familiarize yourself with Georgian’s Student Services.
• Tour the campus with your student(s) to look for their classes, food services, student services, and student lounges.
• Encourage your student to find ways to get involved in their campus community. Georgina College Students’ Association and the Peer Mentor program are great first steps!
• Following Georgian accounts on social media can also be helpful. Here are some Instagram accounts that your student, and you can follow:
  • @georgiancollege
  • @fyegeorgiancollege
  • @georgiancollegelibrary
  • @peermentorsgc
  • @mhwbgc
  • Georgian College Students’ Association (GCSA) has accounts for each campus. Search GCSA and the campus location to find the corresponding account.
• Check with your student to see if they have downloaded important apps on their phone. This may include:
  • Safe@Georgian app – Safe@Georgian provides quick and easy access to emergency contacts, support resources and much more.
  • Navigate Student app – Navigate is a mobile advisor that helps get students from orientation to graduation. The app helps students book appointments with support areas and stay on top of important dates and deadlines – all in the palm of your students’ hand.
• Mutually establish communication expectations between you and your student while they’re away at Georgian.

Parents, supporters, and guardians can be an impactful resource to students’ when they are at college. Often students turn to their support system when they are feeling overwhelmed, lonely, or unsure. Here are some suggestions on how to support your student when they turn to you.

Recognize

College life comes with new responsibilities, pressures, and expectations. While some students adapt quickly, others may find the transition overwhelming. As a parent or supporter, you play an important role in noticing when your student might be having a hard time even if they don’t come right out and say it.

Here are some signs to look out for:

• Changes in communication. If your student becomes distant or is less talkative than normal, it might be a sign that they’re feeling stressed or withdrawn. 
• Shifts in mood or behavior. Expressions of hopelessness, irritability, or unusual emotional ups and downs can signal that something deeper is happening. 
• Mentions of academic difficulty. Recognize important statements such as, “I’m behind,” “This class is impossible,” or “I don’t know if I can do this.” These could be signs that your student is struggling to keep up or falling behind with their workload. 
• Physical signs. If you notice they seem constantly tired, are getting sick more often, or talk about trouble sleeping or eating, those may be signs of emotional strain. 
• Loss of interest. If they stop talking about things they used to enjoy—friends, clubs, hobbies, or goals—they may be feeling overwhelmed or disconnected

Ideas for how you might respond:

• Ask gentle, open-ended questions. “How have you been feeling lately?” or “What’s been the most challenging part of your week?” 
• Avoid trying to solve the problem. Sometimes the best support is just listening and helping them feel heard. 
• Encourage small steps. If they are open to it, help them think through simple next steps like talking to a professor, visiting student services, or setting realistic goals. 
• Make them feel supported. Let them know it’s okay to struggle—and that you’re there for them without judgment.

Your support, patience, and presence can make a huge difference in helping your student find their footing again!

Listen

Communicating with your student is especially important during this transitional time in their life. Practicing supportive listening can help strengthen your connection and make a positive impact on this new journey.

Here are a few ways you can practice supportive listening:

• Be fully present. Whether you’re talking in person, or on a device, always make sure you are giving your student your full attention. 
• Understand. Instead of focusing on what you’ll say next, ensure you are hearing their words and emotions. This allows your student to speak more openly and helps you respond with empathy instead of judgment.  
• Ask conversational questions. Instead of pushing them, try questions that invite deeper conversation. For example, rather than asking, “Are you nervous about your exams?” you might say, “Which exams are you feeling confident about, and which ones do you think you still need to prepare for?” 

Supportive listening is a small but powerful way to stay connected and build trust as your relationship changes. 

Refer

If you’re unsure about the next steps to support your student’s mental health and well-being, a great place to direct your student to start is the Georgian College Mental Health and Well-being (MHWB) website. Please note this is an internal webpage that only your student will be able to access.

Through the MHWB site, your student can explore learning opportunities and other tools to build their mental health awareness and coping skills. The site also offers clear information on how to connect with key supports like the Mental Health and Well-being Navigator, Counsellors, and Peer Mentors. You can also encourage your student to utilize MyGCLife to explore Georgian’s full list of student services.

Reminding your student about the different supports and services is a simple, and effective way to reinforce that they don’t have to navigate things alone and that there are many resources available to help them thrive during their time at Georgian College.