Making the Most of the Holiday Break: A Mental Health Check-In for Students and Parents

A Hackensack Meridian Children’s Health expert shares more

Manahawkin, N.J. - November 9, 2026 - With Thanksgiving break right around the corner, many college students are preparing to return home for the first time since the fall semester began. While this is an exciting time for families to reconnect, it’s also an important opportunity for parents to check in on the mental well-being of both their college-aged children and younger adolescents at home.

The numbers surrounding teen and young adult mental health remain a critical area of focus. In fact, according to the 2024 - 2025 Healthy Minds Study – the nation’s largest annual survey on college mental health – 37% of college students report experiencing moderate to severe depressive symptoms, and 32% report moderate to severe anxiety. And according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey published in 2024, 40% of U.S. high school students reported experiencing persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness.

While these statistics are concerning, It’s important to keep in mind that parents play an important role in providing support and recognizing when their student is struggling. This includes how to identify changes in your child’s mental health, navigate shifting dynamics as they gain independence, and ensure the right support is in place.

Recognizing changes in your teen’s baseline

While social media contributes to mental health challenges, it isn't the only factor. Family dynamics, hormonal changes, and general feelings of disconnect can also play a role.

A desire for privacy, slight moodiness, or spending more time with friends is expected teenage behavior. However, parents should look out for more drastic shifts. Red flags include sudden changes in school performance, poor hygiene, altered sleep patterns, unexplained physical complaints, or completely pulling away from people. If your teen seems very different than they used to be, it might be time to start a conversation.

• Avoid making it punitive: Don't start the conversation by getting upset over something you disapprove of, such as how much time they spend on their phone or staying out too late
• Engage in an activity first: Teens are often more comfortable opening up when you are doing something together, like chores around the house or taking a drive in the car
• Keep it simple: Expressing a simple observation like, "You don’t seem like yourself lately, are you doing okay?" can sometimes be enough to get started
• Leave the door open: If they don't want to talk right away, the conversation isn't a failure. You've successfully opened the door for them to approach you when they are ready

The shift from high school to college and from manager to consultant

When students come home for Thanksgiving break, families often need to renegotiate their relationship. Parents are used to being the ‘manager’ of the relationship, usually overseeing and setting schedules for sleeping, eating, homework and activities for their kids. But once they’re off to college, mom and dad become the ‘consultant’ and serve more in a supportive role. This dynamic may cause some friction during that first visit home. Even the dynamic between your student and siblings may change – all things to keep in mind. 

Tips for navigating the holiday break

• Renegotiate household rules: Your child has had months to practice being on their own. Discuss expectations for curfews, chores, borrowing the family car and other things now that they are back under your roof
• Encourage resilience: If they are feeling overwhelmed by college life, listen and remind them that struggling to adjust to a new situation is to be expected and that sometimes it takes a little time to settle in
• Look for the baseline: Parents should look for signs of a new or greater consumption of alcohol or other substances – especially in college freshman, as the first six-weeks away is a high-risk period for this behavior with students often wanting to ‘fit in.’ And in general, go with your gut. If something seems ‘off,’ start with a conversation. If your student truly doesn’t seem like themselves, it’s okay to navigate next steps with a mental health professional

Help your student take charge of their mental health today by staying observant, keeping the lines of communication open, and planning ahead.

Stacy Doumas, M.D., MBA, is chair of Psychiatry for the Southern Region of Hackensack Meridian Health and chair of the Department of Psychiatry at Jersey Shore University Medical Center.

For more resources on supporting your child's mental health and well-being, visit Hackensack Meridian Health Children's Health at HackensackMeridianHealth.org/kids. 

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