Transitioning Mental Health Treatment During College
Trinity is committed to supporting students who have a history of mental health conditions and/or drug and alcohol treatment before entering college. Here is a guide of what you can do to stay healthy while transitioning to and attending college.
What is your treatment history?
The more you know about your mental health history, the better advocate you are for your needs on campus. Learn about your condition, including age at onset, symptoms and effective treatment. Learn about your medications, including dosages and side effects.
How do you want to manage your care on campus?
If you are planning to continue care with treatment providers back home, please considering the following:
- Are infrequent visits during winter break and the summer sufficient?
- Do you have access to your providers by phone?
- How will you receive your medications on campus?
- Do you plan to connect with our on-campus Counseling and Wellness Center so that there on on-campus resources to help with urgent needs and the transition to college life?
If you are planning to seek care at Trinity’s Counseling and Wellness Center, please consider the following:
- Are you okay with receiving outpatient therapy on a weekly or biweekly basis?
- What other campus resources can you access to get support?
- Have you requested that your providers at home share necessary information, including prescriptions, with Trinity’s Counseling and Wellness Center?
- Trinity’s Counseling and Wellness Center offers a strictly confidential service so that students can come to us with many different types of problems. We do not make any information available to anyone else, at the College or elsewhere, without a signed release of information from the student.
- The services of the Center are free of charge to enrolled Trinity students.
If prescription medication is needed, it may also be covered by the student health plan and/or coverage through a parent’s policy. If you are planning to seek care with an off-campus clinician, please consider the following:
- Are off-campus clinicians affordable and/or do they accept your insurance?
- Can you meet the off-campus clinician before you transition to Trinity so you can set up a plan in advance?
- Do you and/or your family have adequate funds to pay for private care?
- Do you feel comfortable connecting with Trinity’s Counseling and Wellness Center to inform us about your treatment plan so that we can assist with any urgent matters that arise during the academic year?
For more information and tips on ways to transition your mental health care, download the Transition of Care Guide from the JED Foundation.
