In order to help the parents better understand the characteristics of their children's physical and mental development and assist their children in leading a happy life in college, the Psychological Research and Counseling Center (PRCC) held an online mental health education lecture entitled "Growing Up with Your Children" for the parents of the freshmen students of the Computer School, the Leeds College, and the PRCC at 20:00 on the evening of October 26th, 2022.
The lecture was delivered by Associate Professor Ma Shuqin who is the director of the counseling department of the PRCC, and presided over by Li Yumei, a teacher from the PRCC. More than 100 parents participated in the lecture.
Through a large number of vivid cases, Madam Ma explained to the parents all kinds of problems that freshmen students might encounter and the reactions they might have after entering the university. In the face of those situations, parents need to know how to cope with them correctly. Madam Ma emphasized that the parents needed to understand, respect, support, and help their children adapt to their new life in college. Then, Madam Ma explained those four aspects with vivid cases.
Madam Ma noted that our children might encounter various new challenges in their study, life, and interpersonal relationship after entering college. As a result, they may experience some temporary maladaptation. As their parents, we must understand our children's situation. On the basis of understanding, we should respect our children's psychological needs to become an adult, and leave a certain space for their psychological development. At the same time, we should satisfy the reasonable needs of our children. In particular, the psychological needs of our children should not be ignored.
Madam Ma also reminded the parents: “When your children encounter some psychological problems, you should understand and support them on the one hand, and learn to make judgement on their situations on the other hand. For example, if you find that your child always says that he or she is in a badmood or that life is boring, you should observe his or her behavior carefully. If your child is in a low mood and unable to bring up his interest in doing things for more than two weeks, you should be aware that he or she may have a tendency to depression. At this time, you should urge your children to go to the psychological center on campus for psychological counseling or to the psychiatric department of a specialized hospital for examination and diagnosis.”
Finally, Madam Ma hoped that all parents should take good care of themselves, live a good life and create a harmonious and warm family atmosphere because good family relations and harmonious family atmosphere can bring safety, confidence and strength to their children so that their children can meet and face various challenges in college life in a better physical and mental state and grow up healthily and happily.
At the end of the lecture, Madam Li Yumei summarized the lecture and hoped that in the future, the communication mechanism between parents and the university would be further strengthened to help students grow up healthily. The lecture concluded successfully with sincere thanks from the parents.
