The College Student’s Guide to Mental Health: Essential Wellness Strategies for Flourishing in College

by Mia Nosanow

The first — and only — comprehensive guide to mental and emotional health for college students

Every year tens of millions of young adults are enrolled in college. While this can be an exciting time, it is also often a period of uncertainty, anxiety, isolation, and depression for both new and current students. For those living with these mental health issues already, and especially for a generation coping with the disruption to schooling brought on by the pandemic, these conditions can worsen during the college years. And the problem appears to be growing. According to the Center for Collegiate Health, the number of students seeking mental health services has increased at five times the rate of enrollment.

To address this growing need, psychologist and therapist Mia Nosanow has created The College Student’s Guide to Mental Health , a complete resource for students, parents, and loved ones — and even professionals who work with students. Drawing on her more than twenty years of direct experience counseling a diverse student body at Macalester College, Nosanow has written the first comprehensive mental and emotional health manual designed specifically for those in college. Presented in clear, practical language and organized in short chapters, this book breaks down common problems and provides actionable strategies for help.

Readers will find information

• understanding the link between physical health and mental health — and tips for improving both
• developing and recognizing personal identity
• how to cope with negative thoughts and manage intense emotions
• building healthy and meaningful relationships and why this is important
• tips for seeking counseling, sleeping better, using calming strategies, and much more

As the first book to specifically provide guidance on this topic, The College Student’s Guide to Mental Health will help the millions of students struggling with mental health to transform college into a healthy, enjoyable, and fulfilling experience.
  

Genres: Nonfiction, Education, Self Help, Mental Health

368 pages, Paperback

Published February 27, 2024

About the author

Mia Nosanow, MA, LP is a licensed psychologist and mental health therapist who specializes in college students. For 20 years, Mia worked as a mental health counselor at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, one of the most culturally diverse undergraduate colleges in the United States, with students from every state and 99 countries. She has been a therapist to thousands of students for individual and group counseling. She holds a BA from Carleton College and an MA in Counseling and Student Personnel Psychology from the University of Minnesota. She is the mother of two adult sons, and lives with her husband in St. Paul.

Reviews

[William Schram · Rating 5 out of 5]

This brilliant book would have aided me twenty years ago. As someone commented, the title is very specific.

Mia Nosanow wrote The College Student’s Guide to Mental Health, and it came out recently enough to mention Coronavirus.

Nosanow covers thirty-five different aspects of college life that students find troubling or difficult. The first chapters deal with sustaining a healthy body since that is the foundation of a sound mind. Her most important piece of advice is getting enough sleep.

On another note, the topic that was the most fascinating was on procrastination. That was my Achilles heel back in college.

Other topics include making friends, intimacy, substance use, imposter syndrome, and perfectionism.

The book offers advice for each problem, and tells you when to seek professional help.

I enjoyed the book. Thanks for reading my review, and see you next time.

[Debbie Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazingly thorough and readable book that our family can't recommend highly enough. We purchased this book to support us as parents of a college freshman, and have ended up sharing it with her therapist who is using it in their sessions! I wish it had been around when I was in college, especially as I didn't have the courage at the time to actually see a counselor. The author's experience as a college mental health counselor is immediately apparent; her words "ring true." The examples from the author's experience really make the book come alive, and relatable for our teen. So many relevant topics are covered--starting with a focus on developing basic self-care routines (getting enough sleep, eating nutritious food, movement/exercise & substance use). Also, how to make friends, develop strong self-esteem, develop good study habits--this book really does cover everything. A bonus: much of the content is applicable to both teens and adults--I learned a few things along the way! Makes a wonderful gift for parents, teens, teachers and therapists.

[Alison Morse · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a former teacher of first year college students and mentor to high school I found this book invaluable, a must read for college and high school students as they learn about themselves and the manage young adulthood in an academic setting. The book's engaging, approachable style and important information also makes The College Student's Guide to Mental Health an excellent resource for parents, teachers, guidance counselors and mentors to these young people. I keep buying more copies to give to people and wish that I'd read it when I was an undergrad.

[Emily Kunash · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an excellent resource for emerging adults!! This succinct guidebook provides basic mental wellness tools, thought provoking questions, and knowledge that is scientifically and anecdotally supported! Mia presents the information in short, manageable chapters with resources if you would like more information on that topic. It’s structured well so you can absorb the information easily and reference quickly if needed. Highly recommended for emerging adults!!

[Anastasia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit of a light treatment on various "isms," and lacking intersectionality; not particularly inclusive of non traditionally aged college students nor those living at home, etc. However, overall a lot of important topics for consideration with good starting points for self-reflection, growth, and positive change. I recommend my son who attends a university read this book but I'm not sure how many of my community college students I would recommend this to.

[Deborah Field · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a college professor and this is the book I lend out to students. The author is clearly an experienced and compassionate clinician, who offers clear, practical advice. Every college student should own a copy.

[Christian Collis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a bit skeptical when my mom demanded I read this at first, but I actually found the book very engaging with a lot of helpful tips that I’ve been able to apply to my life.