College can be a time of big changes: new routines, academic pressure, part-time jobs, relationships, money worries and, for many students, living away from home for the first time. Bryan–College Station is home to Texas A&M University, and many people here are juggling classes with work and family. It is common to have hard weeks. It also helps to know the signs that stress has become something more, and where to turn when it does.
SAMHSA, a federal agency, keeps a list of common warning signs. It includes strong worry or sadness, unusual anger or irritability, large swings in mood, difficulty concentrating or remembering, shifts in sleep or appetite, and pulling away from friends, family and activities. Its rule of thumb is that two weeks or more of changes in your thoughts, mood or body that make school, work, home life or relationships hard to manage is a reason to reach out.
For young people, it adds signs such as struggling to get to class or handle daily tasks, losing interest in things you usually enjoy, having little or no energy, feeling hopeless, or feeling numb, as if nothing matters.
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) points out that students may have access to mental health services and support through their school's health center or peer support groups, and suggests searching your school's website for mental health resources. If you are a Texas A&M student, the university's official website is the place to check what is available to you and how to access it.
NIMH also mentions your primary care provider, who can do a first mental health screening and refer you on if needed, and your health insurer, which knows which local providers your plan covers. Students who work can also ask whether their employer offers an Employee Assistance Program.
Some students look for psychiatric care off campus, for example for an evaluation, for questions about ADHD, anxiety or depression, or to continue care that began with a prescriber back home. Ruhwell Med is one College Station option: a telepsychiatry practice whose psychiatric clinician, a physician assistant, sees patients in Texas by video under the supervision of its Medical Director, a physician. Its website has a page for students and residents in College Station and Bryan. The practice states that it is an independent healthcare practice and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Texas A&M University.
Video visits may suit students balancing classes, work and limited transportation. HHS, the federal health department, notes on its telehealth site that skipping the trip, and the time off it takes, is one way telehealth saves time. One practical point is location. Ruhwell Med's FAQ, for example, ties its care to state licensure, so you need to be located in Texas while the visit is happening. If you spend school breaks out of state, ask your provider how to plan appointments and refills around them.
Students who arrive with an existing diagnosis or prescription sometimes find that their care does not travel easily. Before the semester starts, ask your current prescriber how follow-up will work while you are away, and bring a list of your medications and past treatments to any new provider. NIMH's guidance is not to stop a prescribed medication, even once you feel better, without a health care provider's help.
Students often wonder who will see their information. HHS explains that HIPAA rules protect your medical information, including what you share during telehealth visits. If you use a parent's insurance, ask your insurer and your provider how statements and other plan notices are handled. Ruhwell Med's Notice of Privacy Practices, for example, lists a right to ask the practice to reach you by a particular method or at a particular place.
If a roommate or friend seems to be struggling, SAMHSA suggests expressing concern and support, asking questions and listening to the answers, and helping them connect to professional help. One of its suggested conversation starters asks plainly whether the person has thought about harming themselves or others. If you are worried about their safety, help them call or text 988 right away, and call 911 if anyone is in immediate danger.
Asking for help in the middle of a semester can feel like one more task on a long list. SAMHSA's message to young people is worth keeping in mind: you are not alone, and there are lots of people who want to help. A short note listing what you have noticed and how long it has lasted is enough to start the conversation.
This article is general information, not medical advice. If you or someone you know is in crisis or thinking about suicide, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or call 911 in an emergency.