Newswise — The 2010-11 edition of “The Healthy Student: A Parent’s Guide for Preparing Teens for the College Years” reflects the most current vaccination requirements for adolescents and is available for purchase in bulk from the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine (SAHM). Parents can download a single copy of a recent version (PDF) for free on the SAHM website. This booklet provides much of the important medical and mental health information that students and parents should review before college life begins.
“A college freshman is essentially a high school senior without parents around,” writes Lawrence Neinstein, MD, the author of the “Healthy Student” brochure. With their newfound freedom, “many stumble into high-risk behaviors and situations, unaware of the consequences and dangers,” he says. Parents of college freshmen will find useful conversation starters on subjects like underage drinking, smart decision-making, drug use, campus safety and consequences of illegal activity.
Magazines and websites publish reviews and rankings of many school offerings, but health considerations are often overlooked. “The Healthy Student” offers parents and teens a detailed look at basic health issues such as immunization and routine first aid, as well as tips for dealing with health insurance and medical records for students away from home, as well as the way to make use of the student health center on campus.
University health centers will find this a useful resource to distribute to incoming freshmen as part of an orientation packet. Dinorah Martinez-Anderson, RN from Health Services at Southwestern University, Georgetown, Texas, says: “This brochure captured all elements of the first year for both parents and incoming students. I was so impressed; we decide to include it in our first-year mailing to all students. It truly is a great resource. We love it and plan to continue using it.” An order form with bulk pricing information is available on the SAHM website for institutions that want to purchase larger quantities for distribution to students or patients.
The Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine is a multi-disciplinary organization of health professionals who are committed to advancing the health and well-being of adolescents. Through education, research, clinical services and advocacy activities, members of SAHM strive to enhance public and professional awareness of adolescent health issues among families, educators, policy makers, youth-serving organizations, students who are considering a health career, as well as healthcare professionals. Learn more at www.adolescenthealth.org.
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