'A lot of pressure': FAMU, FSU students and parents consider mental health during campus move-in

Parents are delivering their final hugs of move-in week as Florida A&M and Florida State universities welcome students from both near and far onto their campuses with open arms.

Incoming students indicate that the support they receive ranks high as a critical factor in this next step of their journey.

Hailing from White Plains, Maryland, FAMU incoming freshmen Brianna Triplett is one of those students – and she has plans to work on managing her mental health more while being a student and getting a feel for the new environment.

“It’s definitely going to be weird being away from home and adjusting to the transition,” said Triplett, 18, who moved into FAMU Towers Tuesday.

Students at FAMU have also moved into Sampson and Young halls, Polkinghorne Village and Palmetto South and Phase III apartment complexes. With the help of parents and staff, they've been unloading their belongings to get situated on campus since Monday.

FSU’s move in dates began as early as Aug. 12 as students moved into the university’s 17 residence halls, including Azalea, Magnolia, Deviney, Gilchrist and Ragans.

Previous coverage of FAMU, FSU move-in:

• Florida A&M freshmen eager to embrace the historically Black college experience in Tallahassee

• Despite cloud of COVID, FSU freshmen excited about campus move-in

FSU has an enrollment of about 45,000 students this year while FAMU has a little over 8,000 students.

Although the ongoing pandemic has become less of a concern for many as the "new normal" becomes more familiar on college campuses, mental health is something students and parents are taking into account as students return to the classroom this fall.

Parents like Triplett’s father, Herman Triplett, explained how he thinks mental health is often overlooked.

“The biggest thing is that people don’t recognize that there are mental health issues and exactly what they are,” Triplett said. “With freshmen coming in, it’s a whole new thing for them – being away from home and being out on their own.”

Related news: FAMU psychology grads Brayboy, Allen discuss their mental health journeys, plans to serve as advocates

Mental health resources

As the family took a break from unloading their car, Triplett’s mother Tanisha Triplett shared what worries her the most about students like her daughter experiencing college life for the first time.

“My concern and biggest fear for my daughter and all students, really, is them doing it alone and not telling somebody when they’re actually struggling or need help,” Triplett said.

But when it comes to mental health, FAMU and FSU both have resources students can take advantage of, letting them know that they're not alone in navigating a new change in their lifestyle. The Board of Governors, the appointed body overseeing the State University System, has made mental health awareness a key component of their message to university presidents.

FAMU’s Office of Counseling Services offers students a space to discuss any academic or personal issues they find themselves experiencing, from study skills and depression to homesickness and struggles with relationships.

“I think it’s good that there are people around campus to help with that kind of stuff, so I feel like I should be okay,” Brianna Triplett said.

The counseling sessions are free, and students can take as many as they need.

“One of the main things that students need to know and be aware of, especially freshmen students who are just now coming to campus, is that college and high school are totally different, and there is a lot of stress that goes on with college,” FAMU Counseling Services Director Anika Fields told the Democrat.

Fields advises students to know where the counseling center, the police department and their advisor’s office are all located for whenever they may need to speak to someone.

At FSU, Counseling and Psychological Services has a wide range of professionals to assist students, such as psychologists, social workers, mental health counselors, treatment coordinators and a mental health education coordinator.

“Florida State University considers wellness, including mental health, essential to student success. We want all of our students to thrive at FSU and beyond,” Vice President for Student Affairs Amy Hecht said in an email to the Democrat. “The past few years have been challenging, and while we’re ‘back to normal,’ many of us are figuring out what it means to be back in a community.”

Jennifer Rabideau, an 18-year-old from Tampa, Florida, shared what life was like during the pandemic as a high schooler and how she’ll find her way around the FSU community as a freshman.

“During COVID, I was definitely separated from the people I was around a lot, so I lost a lot of friendships and relationships,” Rabideau said, standing outside of Magnolia Hall. “It was really hard to build those back. I’m just going to take it day by day here and see how it goes.”

Eighteen-year-old Avery Morgan from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, is also navigating the campus community as she prepares to start her first year.

“I didn’t know anyone here coming in, so it definitely makes me a little anxious to think about how I need to balance my social life and school while living on my own so far away from home,” Morgan said. “It’s a lot of pressure on one person.”

With the concerns of adjusting to college while moving in, students like Rabideau and Morgan plan on checking out the university's free counseling services during their time at FSU.

Move-in dates at FSU are until Aug. 21 while FAMU’s move-in schedule ends on Aug. 20. Classes start Aug. 22.

“Most, if not all, of our incoming students experience challenges inherent to arriving on campus and adjusting to a new environment,” Counseling and Psychological Services Director Carlos Gomez said. “At FSU, we emphasize that we’re all in this together. It only takes one connection to open up an entire world of support.”

Contact Tarah Jean at tjean@tallahassee.com or follow her on twitter @tarahjean_.

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU, FSU students, parents consider mental health during campus move-in