Leaving school, home, and family behind for college or independent living is an exciting milestone. For young people managing mental health conditions, this transition brings new opportunities to build independence, establish personalized care routines, and take ownership of their overall well-being.
You may now be managing psychiatric medication without direct day-to-day parent involvement or coordinating care in a new location. Learning to navigate independent life provides a great foundation for building effective self-care strategies and maintaining your medication routine.
In this article, we’ll discuss:
Transitioning to adulthood can significantly affect young adult mental health. You might be leaving school to:
Each of these can affect your mental health in different ways, but all have one thing in common: you’re becoming independent. For young people with mental health difficulties, this often means managing medication and treatment plans themselves for the first time.
It can be challenging to turn 18 with a mental health condition, as it means taking control of your healthcare and perhaps no longer having your caregivers around providing daily support.[1] This can add to fears you already have about graduation or transitioning from high school.
Though it can be an emotionally challenging time, it’s still possible to enjoy your first steps into independence and grow from it. Prioritizing your mental health will be a key part of this, helping you to build connections and get the support you need.[1]
Stepping into independence is a learning process. Adjusting to new schedules and social environments offers a great opportunity to establish a medication routine that fits your lifestyle and supports your health goals.
Perhaps the most significant change at this time is the lack of routine and structure. When you’re attending school every day of the week for several years, it becomes an extremely predictable and reliable routine:[2]
Independent life gives you greater autonomy to shape your day-to-day experience. While college and work environments offer more flexible routines, you have full freedom to organize your time, prioritize your health, and design habits that work best for you.
If you’ve been receiving treatment for a mental health condition, this is likely to have provided some structure, too. However, if there’s been no transition plan for your move to college, you might struggle without that safety net.[3]
Developing a consistent approach to medication management is a gradual process. Building a habit around taking medication, arranging prescription refills, and connecting with local providers are all empowering steps toward long-term independence.
Another aspect of independent living is feeling lonely and finding it harder to make new social connections. Though there are typically lots of opportunities to make friends and join societies at college, it can be overwhelming for some young people.[2]
Taking time for yourself is a normal part of adjusting to independent living. Setting up personal routines and connecting with support networks will help you feel confident in managing your health independently.
Many young people feel overwhelmed by:[2][3]
Staying proactive about your mental health and keeping track of your medication helps you stay resilient and balanced as you adapt to these exciting changes.
There are several practical and safety-related medication risks when living away from home with a mental health condition:
As a result, some young adults may be less cautious with their medication than they should be. They might skip doses or take the wrong amount. Some might stop taking it entirely on days when they feel better, not knowing that they need to keep taking it consistently.
Building a clear understanding of your prescription helps ensure you feel prepared and confident when managing psychiatric medication on your own.
Mission Prep is here to help you or your loved one take the next steps towards an improved mental well-being.
Though living away from home for the first time can be extremely difficult, it is possible to take care of your well-being and manage your medication. Here’s some advice for taking medication at college and looking after your mental health when you’re living independently:
There’s a great deal of mental health medication available, from attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medication to antidepressants and antipsychotics. Each has its own set of:
The best way to feel competent at managing your medication independently is to become well-acquainted with your particular prescription.[4]
One way you can do so is by creating a sort of research project. Learning the following basics can be very helpful once you’re living independently:[4]
Keeping this information written down somewhere easy to find, like a notes app or a card in your wallet, means you don’t have to rely on memory alone, especially in an emergency.
Establishing a routine will be essential for managing your medication. You can do so by:
If you do miss a dose, it helps to know in advance whether it’s safe to take it late or whether you should just wait for your next one. This varies by medication.
When you turn 18 or move away from home, you’ll need to get set up with new services.
Most colleges will have mental health services, but their counseling offerings are typically limited to a handful of sessions. They’re usually available for free, but not ideal if you need ongoing support. It will be essential to register with them and be familiar with their crisis services.[1]
Meanwhile, you’ll want to get familiar with your local services and how they work. For example:
If your mental health difficulties have previously involved self-harming and suicidal thoughts or actions, medication adherence will be extremely important. It will also be necessary to create a crisis plan for yourself for the possibility of mental health emergencies.
If you’re ever having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, you can call or text 988 anytime to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.[3]
With the support of your family, university mental health services, and primary care provider, you can create a crisis plan which involves:[3]
Many young people find it helpful to share a copy of this plan with a parent or close friend, so someone else knows what to do if things get difficult.
Mission Prep provides treatment for teens experiencing various mental health conditions. Mental Health support is a phone call away – call 866-901-4047 to learn about your treatment options.
See our residences in Southern California’s Los Angeles & San Diego areas.
Take a look at our Minneapolis-St. Paul area homes in Hennepin County.
View our facilities in Loudoun County, VA within the DC metro area.
If you’re struggling with mental health issues and greater independence, support is available. At Mission Prep Teen Treatment, we offer tailored treatment programs to foster sustainable change for adolescents and their families.
Whether you could benefit from residential treatment at one of our locations or something more flexible, like an outpatient mental health program delivered virtually, our team can help. We work with you to create a custom treatment plan that incorporates evidence-based therapeutic approaches and innovative interventions for long-term healing.
Mission Prep Teen Treatment accepts insurance and is in-network with most major providers. We are happy to help you check your insurance coverage for mental health care.
Learn more about our admissions process online or call 866-901-4047 to speak with a caring member of our team who can answer any questions you might have. Reach out for a free, no-obligation conversation.
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