Central California Alliance for Health | Living Healthy | September 2018

7 HEALTHY FOR MORE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES, VISIT: ●  ● 2020 Mom’s website at 2020mom.org ●  ● Spanish Postpartum Support International at postpartum .net/en-espanol ●  ● Totally overwhelmed ●  ● Weepy ●  ● Anxious or nervous ●  ● Angry ●  ● Scared by your thoughts ●  ● Like you’re not yourself ●  ● Guilt ●  ● Regret ●  ● Shame Remember, you and your baby are not alone. You can: ●  ● Ask friends and family members for support. ●  ● Talk to your doctor, midwife or child’s doctor about your feelings. ●  ● Medi-Cal members can call Beacon Health Options (Alliance’s contracted provider for mental health) at 1-855-765-9700 to ask for help. IHSS members can call Beacon at 1-800-808-5796 . You’re the parent of a new college freshman—and it won’t be long before you drop your child off in the dorm and drive away. But before you do, it’s important to make sure your child is fully aware of the risks of college drinking. They can’t be overstated. Every year in the U.S., college drinking contributes to: ●  ● 1,569 accidental deaths, including car crashes ●  ● 97,000 sexual assaults and date rapes ●  ● 696,000 assaults by another student who has been drinking In addition, about 1 in 4 college students report that drinking—and especially binge drinking— has hurt them academically. They’ve missed classes, done poorly on exams and papers, and received low grades as a result of using alcohol. Your role The good news: You still have heavy influence over your child’s choices, even into the college years. Studies show students who choose not to drink often make that choice because their parents talked about the danger of drinking with them. So: Speak up. Tell your child the risks of drinking and make it clear that you do not want him or her to use alcohol. Zero-tolerance messages are the most effective way to keep kids from drinking in college. Keep talking. The first 6 weeks of the freshman year are a vulnerable time for heavy drinking. Even so, keep reinforcing your zero-tolerance stance on underage drinking throughout college. You’re showing continued concern for your child’s well-being. Be honest. If your child asks about your past drinking behavior, be honest. Own up to any risks you took—and any negative outcomes that resulted. But answer your child’s questions in ways that don’t suggest underage drinking is OK. PARENTS Talk to your college kids about drinking the first year after the baby arrives. A new mother may feel fear about caring for her newborn. Fathers and partners may also experience depression or anxiety. Many new parents and families need help getting used to the changes a baby brings. Caring for a new baby is hard work. You or your partner may not be getting enough sleep. You may not be eating enough. You may be worried about the baby’s health or struggling to care for your baby. If you or a loved one has any (or all) of the following feelings, ask for help: