From Publishers Weekly
Kadison, chief of mental health services at Harvard, and DiGeronimo (How to Talk to Your Kids About Really Important Things) are deeply concerned about the marked growth in serious mental health problems on campus: they note statistics showing that almost half of all students will become seriously depressed during their college career and may engage repeatedly in binge drinking. One in 10 undergraduates, they say, will seriously consider suicide. And the crisis is augmented, say the authors, by the cutbacks in mental health programs at many colleges due to budgetary considerations. Kadison and DiGeronimo do a commendable job of outlining the many stresses students face, such as academic pressure, financial problems, feelings of social inadequacy and, for women, a fear of sexual assault. In a stark chapter, the authors outline the self-destructive coping mechanisms adopted by those with emotional problems, including eating disorders, drug abuse, cutting and suicide attempts. Parents will find sensible suggestions for helping their children deal with college life. Most important, say the authors, is keeping the lines of communication open by listening to children without judgment or criticism. Parents, college counselors and administrators, and students themselves (to whom the last chapter is addressed) will find helpful, if sometimes disturbing, information here. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.


From Book News, Inc.
College students of the Cold War, whose most pressing worry was immediate obliteration by missiles, apparently had less to fear than modern students, whose college loans are due even during nuclear holocaust. Kadison (mental health service, Harvard U.) and DiGeronimo (education and parenting, no affiliation given) include sources of stress that have continued from the Cold War days, and add recent twists that could affect students' mental health, including drugs and drink, intense competition, and ongoing discrimination. They do not consider the particulars of non-traditional students but do explore the sometimes unrealistic expectations of parents and students about college life. Appendices include descriptions of medications and resources for specific conditions.Copyright © 2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR


Review
Kadison, chief of mental health services at Harvard, and DiGeronimo (How to Talk to Your Kids About Really Important Things) are deeply concerned about the marked growth in serious mental health problems on campus: they note statistics showing that almost half of all students will become seriously depressed during their college career and may engage repeatedly in binge drinking. One in 10 undergraduates, they say, will seriously consider suicide. And the crisis is augmented, say the authors, by the cutbacks in mental health programs at many colleges due to budgetary considerations. Kadison and DiGeronimo do a commendable job of outlining the many stresses students face, such as academic pressure, financial problems, feelings of social inadequacy and, for women, a fear of sexual assault. In a stark chapter, the authors outline the self-destructive coping mechanisms adopted by those with emotional problems, including eating disorders, drug abuse, cutting and suicide attempts. Parents will find sensible suggestions for helping their children deal with college life. Most important, say the authors, is keeping the lines of communication open by listening to children without judgment or criticism. Parents, college counselors and administrators, and students themselves (to whom the last chapter is addressed) will find helpful, if sometimes disturbing, information here. (Oct.) (Publishers Weekly, August 30, 2004)


Review
"Kadison and DiGeronimo do a commendable job.… Parents will find sensible suggestions for helping their children deal with college life." (Publishers Weekly, August 30, 2004)


Review
“A wise and highly readable guide for parents and their college-age students to developmental and mental health issues that confront college students and worry their loving parents, by the director of one of the nation’s leading college mental health services. Kadison’s words will help parents talk with their sons and daughters about difficult subjects, and they will help students develop courage to accept help for themselves.”
--Elizabeth Studley Nathans, dean of freshman, Harvard College

“Dr. Kadison’s twenty-five years of experience in working with students puts him in an ideal position to educate parents and advise them on the important issues in college mental health. He has done an excellent job in exploring these issues for the parents of college students.”
--Lorraine Siggins, M.D., psychiatrist-in-chief, Yale University Health Service; clinical professor of psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine

“Richard Kadison has created an extraordinary book. It is thoroughly grounded in evidence and data about college mental health, as well as in Kadison’s extensive experience working with college students. His conversational writing style and use of case examples make the text come alive. All of his audiences—students, parents, and administrators—will get thoughtful and actionable insights form this powerful work.”
--Patricia Light, Ed.D., director, MBA Support Services, Harvard Business School


Book Description
Written for parents, students, college counselors, and administrators, College of the Overwhelmed is a landmark book that explores the stressors that cause so many college students to suffer psychological problems. The book is filled with insights and stories about the current mental health crisis on our nation's campuses and offers: A hands-on guide for helping students overcome stress and succeed in a college environment. An examination of the effects of such commonplace stress factors such as: identity development, relationships, sexuality, roommate problems, academic pressures, extracurricular demands, parental expectations, and racial and cultural differences that affect self-worth. Personal stories of students under stress and describes how they overcame a variety of problems. The warning signs and symptoms of common problems, including depression, sleep disorders, substance abuse, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, impulsive behaviors, and suicide. Order your copy now.


From the Inside Flap
With the intense media focus on the rising number of suicides on college campuses, there is a desperate need to understand what can be done to prevent serious emotional and mental health problems among students. In a national survey, more than 50 percent of college students reported feeling so depressed that it was difficult for them to function during the past academic year. Written for parents, students, college counselors, and administrators, College of the Overwhelmed is a landmark book that explores the stressors that cause so many college students to suffer psychological problems. The book is filled with insights and stories about the current mental health crisis on our nation’s campuses and offers a hands-on guide for helping students overcome stress and succeed in a college environment. Authors Dr. Richard Kadison–a national expert on the topic of campus mental health–and Theresa Foy DiGeronimo examine the effects of such commonplace stress factors as identity development, relationships, sexuality, roommate problems, academic pressures, extracurricular demands, parental expectations, and racial and cultural differences that affect self-worth. The book includes the personal stories of students under stress and describes how they overcame a variety of problems. The authors discuss the warning signs and symptoms of common problems, including depression, sleep disorders, substance abuse, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, impulsive behaviors, and suicide. College of the Overwhelmed offers parents, college health services staff, and administrators a way to confront and deal with this ongoing crisis, showing them how to understand and recognize symptoms and act before it’s too late. The book includes a how-to chapter for parents and shows how parents can be involved and proactive in guarding their college-aged children’s mental health. In addition, this vital resource offers students checklists, tips, and advice for reducing the day-to-day stresses of college life.


From the Back Cover
FROM THE FOREMOST LEADER IN THE FIELD An Action Plan for Confronting the Serious Psychological Crisis Among Students "A wise and highly readable guide for parents and their college-aged students to developmental and mental health issues that confront college students and worry their loving parents, by the director of one of the nation’s leading college mental health services. Kadison’s words will help parents talk with their sons and daughters about difficult subjects, and they will help students develop courage to accept help for themselves." – Elizabeth Studley Nathans, dean of freshmen, Harvard College "Dr. Kadison’s twenty-five years of experience in working with students puts him in an ideal position to educate parents and advise them on the important issues in college mental health. He has done an excellent job in exploring these issues for the parents of college students." – Lorraine Siggins, M.D., psychiatrist-in-chief, Yale University Health Service; clinical professor of psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine "Richard Kadison has created an extraordinary book. It is thoroughly grounded in evidence and data about college mental health, as well as in Kadison’s extensive experience working with college students. His conversational writing style and use of case examples make the text come alive. All of his audiences – students, parents, and administrators – will get thoughtful and actionable insights form this powerful work." – Patricia Light, Ed.D., director, MBA Support Services, Harvard Business School


About the Author
Richard Kadison, M.D., is the chief of the Mental Health Service at Harvard University Health Services. A board-certified psychiatrist, Kadison has specialized in campus mental health and student mental health treatment throughout his career.

Theresa Foy DiGeronimo is the author of more than thirty-five books in the fields of education and parenting. She is the coauthor of How to Talk to Your Kids About Really Important Things and Launching Our Black Children for Success, both from Jossey-Bass.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Written for parents, students, college counselors, and administrators, College of the Overwhelmed is a landmark book that explores the stressors that cause so many college students to suffer psychological problems. The book is filled with insights and stories about the current mental health crisis on our nation’s campuses and offers a hands-on guide for helping students overcome stress and succeed in a college environment. Authors Dr. Richard Kadison—a national expert on the topic of campus mental health—and Theresa Foy DiGeronimo examine the effects of such commonplace stress factors as identity development, relationships, sexuality, roommate problems, academic pressures, extracurricular demands, parental expectations, and racial and cultural differences that affect self-worth. The book includes the personal stories of students under stress and describes how they overcame a variety of problems. The authors discuss the warning signs and symptoms of common problems, including depression, sleep disorders, substance abuse, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, impulsive behaviors, and suicide.

Author Biography: Richard Kadison, M.D., is the chief of the Mental Health Service at Harvard University Health Services. A board-certified psychiatrist, Kadison has specialized in campus mental health and student mental health treatment throughout his career. Theresa Foy DiGeronimo is the author of more than thirty-five books in the fields of education and parenting. She is the coauthor of How to Talk to Your Kids About Really Important Things and Launching Our Black Children for Success, both from Jossey-Bass.

“A wise and highly readable guide for parents and their college-age students to developmental and mental health issues that confront college students and worry their loving parents, by the director of one of the nation’s leading college mental health services. Kadison’s words will help parents talk with their sons and daughters about difficult subjects, and they will help students develop courage to accept help for themselves.”
—Elizabeth Studley Nathans, dean of freshman, Harvard College

“Dr. Kadison’s twenty-five years of experience in working with students puts him in an ideal position to educate parents and advise them on the important issues in college mental health. He has done an excellent job in exploring these issues for the parents of college students.”
—Lorraine Siggins, M.D., psychiatrist-in-chief, Yale University Health Service; clinical professor of psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine

“Richard Kadison has created an extraordinary book. It is thoroughly grounded in evidence and data about college mental health, as well as in Kadison’s extensive experience working with college students. His conversational writing style and use of case examples make the text come alive. All of his audiences—students, parents, and administrators—will get thoughtful and actionable insights form this powerful work.”
—Patricia Light, Ed.D., director, MBA Support Services, Harvard Business School

SYNOPSIS

FROM THE FOREMOST LEADER IN THE FIELD

An Action Plan for Confronting the Serious Psychological Crisis Among Students

"A wise and highly readable guide for parents and their college-aged students to developmental and mental health issues that confront college students and worry their loving parents, by the director of one of the nation’s leading college mental health services. Kadison’s words will help parents talk with their sons and daughters about difficult subjects, and they will help students develop courage to accept help for themselves." — Elizabeth Studley Nathans, dean of freshmen, Harvard College

"Dr. Kadison’s twenty-five years of experience in working with students puts him in an ideal position to educate parents and advise them on the important issues in college mental health. He has done an excellent job in exploring these issues for the parents of college students." — Lorraine Siggins, M.D., psychiatrist-in-chief, Yale University Health Service; clinical professor of psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine

"Richard Kadison has created an extraordinary book. It is thoroughly grounded in evidence and data about college mental health, as well as in Kadison’s extensive experience working with college students. His conversational writing style and use of case examples make the text come alive. All of his audiences — students, parents, and administrators — will get thoughtful and actionable insights form this powerful work." — Patricia Light, Ed.D., director, MBA Support Services, Harvard Business School

With the intense media focus on the rising number of suicides on college campuses, there is a desperate need to understand what can be done to prevent serious emotional and mental health problems among students. In a national survey, more than 50 percent of college students reported feeling so depressed that it was difficult for them to function during the past academic year.

Written for parents, students, college counselors, and administrators, College of the Overwhelmed is a landmark book that explores the stressors that cause so many college students to suffer psychological problems. The book is filled with insights and stories about the current mental health crisis on our nation’s campuses and offers a hands-on guide for helping students overcome stress and succeed in a college environment. Authors Dr. Richard Kadison—a national expert on the topic of campus mental health—and Theresa Foy DiGeronimo examine the effects of such commonplace stress factors as identity development, relationships, sexuality, roommate problems, academic pressures, extracurricular demands, parental expectations, and racial and cultural differences that affect self-worth. The book includes the personal stories of students under stress and describes how they overcame a variety of problems. The authors discuss the warning signs and symptoms of common problems, including depression, sleep disorders, substance abuse, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, impulsive behaviors, and suicide.

College of the Overwhelmed offers parents, college health services staff, and administrators a way to confront and deal with this ongoing crisis, showing them how to understand and recognize symptoms and act before it’s too late. The book includes a how-to chapter for parents and shows how parents can be involved and proactive in guarding their college-aged children’s mental health. In addition, this vital resource offers students checklists, tips, and advice for reducing the day-to-day stresses of college life.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

Kadison, chief of mental health services at Harvard, and DiGeronimo (How to Talk to Your Kids About Really Important Things) are deeply concerned about the marked growth in serious mental health problems on campus: they note statistics showing that almost half of all students will become seriously depressed during their college career and may engage repeatedly in binge drinking. One in 10 undergraduates, they say, will seriously consider suicide. And the crisis is augmented, say the authors, by the cutbacks in mental health programs at many colleges due to budgetary considerations. Kadison and DiGeronimo do a commendable job of outlining the many stresses students face, such as academic pressure, financial problems, feelings of social inadequacy and, for women, a fear of sexual assault. In a stark chapter, the authors outline the self-destructive coping mechanisms adopted by those with emotional problems, including eating disorders, drug abuse, cutting and suicide attempts. Parents will find sensible suggestions for helping their children deal with college life. Most important, say the authors, is keeping the lines of communication open by listening to children without judgment or criticism. Parents, college counselors and administrators, and students themselves (to whom the last chapter is addressed) will find helpful, if sometimes disturbing, information here. (Oct.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

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