"Encouraging students to do their own laundry, wash their own dishes and keep their room as they wish helps them begin learning life skills while you're still there to help and assist," counsels expert Kryss Shane. "Rather than stepping in when they make a wrong choice, let them decide whether they will come to you and ask for help."

Students may be used to having a few chores per week, but parents may want to consider ramping these up during senior year to give their child a sense of the increased responsibilities they'll face at college. This exercise also helps them build time management skills and instills self-discipline.

No matter how great a student your child has been in high school, the reality is that their work load is going to increase dramatically once they enter college. The expectations of professors will be higher, and students will need to spend more than an hour each night completing homework assignments, writing papers and studying for exams. Building good study skills during senior year sets students up for success and helps them manage things like stress more effectively so it doesn't bleed into other parts of their lives.

College can be a busy, stressful time for all students, regardless of extenuating mental health concerns. One of the best ways to combat stress and all the other negative concerns that come from this season of life is to develop good life practices.

The University Health Service program at University of Michigan offers several ideas, including helping students learn to value themselves, take care of their bodies, surround themselves with good friends, meditate, avoid excessive alcohol and all drugs and learn how to set realistic goals.

Rather than waiting to get to college to use services available at school, encourage students to familiarize themselves with them while still in high school. Professionals like guidance counselors and mental health specialists can help students balance their lives, while student groups and organizations can help break down the stigma of depression and/or suicidal thoughts.

College schedules are filled to the brim with classes, homework, studying and participation in sports or clubs, but that doesn't mean students can't set aside 30 minutes a week to chat with their parents. By starting this tradition early, students know they have an outlet to talk about what's going on in their lives on a regular basis.

More so than any other new person your child will meet on campus, their roommate likely spends the most time with them. In addition to working with the school to find a suitable person to share a dorm with, parents should consider getting to know their child's roommate as a way of keeping up with their lives.

Even after your child begins to make new friends at college, it's likely they'll still miss and crave the familiarity that comes from parental or grade school relationships. To combat the loneliness of this season, consider sending your child regular care packages.

Ideas include making some of their favorite cookies or baked goods, sending funny videos of family pets, encouraging grandparents to get in touch or collecting notes from people they were close to and creating a little booklet of encouragement.

When young adults suffer from depression or anxiety, getting involved in new student activities and events can be scary but they can also help them in the long run. Taking part in an open mic night may not be the best fit for an introvert, but there are plenty of activities to suit all types of personalities and interests.

Don't be afraid to continue having the same open and frank conversations that were had in high school. Because college students are around people who don't know them as well, it's important for them to have someone check in on how they're doing and if they're taking care of themselves.

While good grades and commendations from the Dean are great things to aspire to, at the end of the day the most important thing is making sure students are healthy and happy at school. If your child calls to say she got a bad grade or had to drop a class, respond in an appropriate and supportive manner that lets them know they can come to you with anything and you won't overreact.

If your student is feeling overwhelmed by the changes brought about by college, going to visit them or paying for a ticket home allows them to disconnect – even if only for a weekend – and reset. Sometimes even just stepping back for a day or two can help students refocus and start the week feeling rested and loved.

Since 1974, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) has protected the privacy of student education records and outlined the rights that parents have when it comes to accessing their child's records. This federal law applies to any school that receives funds from the U.S. Department of Education, and specific rules about the types of information a parent can access exist to protect both the student and the institution.

Rules about the type of educational information parents can access tend to be more lenient (e.g. parents can access educational records if their student is claimed as a dependent for tax purposes and the school can inform parents if a student under the age of 21 violates a law or policy related to alcohol or controlled substances). But rules around mental health and/or medical records are more stringent due to a joint privacy law related to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA).

Since 1996, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) has set strict guidelines about the release of any medical records pertaining to students. A student's treatment records, as they are known within the law, includes information related to any visits made to physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists or any other medical professionals who work for a postsecondary institution or within the community.

While only the attending physician and the student have automatic access to these records under HIPPA, the law does state that records can be disclosed provided the student gives prior written consent. The only exception to the law is if/when a therapist or other medical professional has reason to believe that a student might hurt him/herself or another person. In that case, they are permitted to inform the necessary parties.

Parents are able to access basic educational records about their children, but no medical records may be shared without a student's consent. When filling out an authorization for release of health information form, students can select what types of information a parent can access, including:

• Attendance (appointments scheduled and met; when the visit took place)
• Treatment (any diagnoses made and treatments recommended)
• Safety concerns (whether the student is considered a danger to themselves or others)
• Alcohol and/or drug use
• Written mental health records
• A summary of treatment
• Issues related to academic performance
• Billing records
• Other (the student is allowed to write in an answer)

According to mental health expert Kryss Shane, it's helpful to have a conversation with your student before they go to college to set some ground rules about transparency and openness. "If you're worried about your student and you pay some or all of the bills, you can consider requiring them to sign the authorization of release form so you can gain information if/when you need it," she says. "You can also have them sign a document with their therapist so the therapist can affirm that students are regularly attending sessions. If students aren't great at being consistent with their medications, you can ask them to take the pills each night over Skype so you can see them."

Parents may also consider building a relationship with the Resident Director of their child's dorm so they have someone to check in with if they don't hear from the student for a few days. "Usually, these professionals can help keep an eye on the student without providing information such as grades or class attendance," says mental health advocate T-Kea Blackman.