When our student heads off to college, we worry about a lot of things, and one of the primary concerns is our student’s health and well-being. We first interviewed Dr. Jill Grimes, often dubbed the “College Doc” because of her focus on the health of college aged students, back in Episode #024 in 2020, at the height of the Covid Pandemic. It was time to invite her back to hear what’s changed in the last 4 years and also to hear about what’s new in the 3rd edition of her book The Ultimate College Student Health Handbook: Your Guide for Everything from Hangovers to Homesickness. In this episode, in conversation with Vicki and Elizabeth, Dr. Grimes shares tips for preparing your student for doctor visits on their own, what paperwork your student and you should complete before they head off, and she helps us understand (so we can explain to our students) how today’s pills and weed are so different from those of a few years ago.
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We were thrilled to welcome Dr. Jill Grimes back once again to share so much valuable information about college student health. Jill talked to us back in episode #024 – College Student Health: An Interview with Dr. Jill Grimes and since then she has released the third edition of her book, The Ultimate College Student Health Handbook: Your Guide for Everything from Hangovers to Homesickness. She joined us today to share some new information and to let us know about some of the things that have changed since her last edition.
One of the topics in Jill’s new book is helping your student prepare to go to doctor visits on their own. Hopefully, many families have begun this process earlier, but Jill reminded us what topics we might want to cover with our student so they’ll be comfortable if they need to visit the college health center or deal with filling their own prescriptions. This is another important step toward your student’s independence.
Jill also talked about what essential paperwork parents and students should be filling out and why having things like a HIPPA release or Medical Power of Attorney completed before students head to school is important. We don’t like to think about possibilities like serious accidents, but they can happen, and being prepared is reassuring. Jill suggested parents take a look at mamabearlegalforms.com for options and suggestions.
Jill talked about whether, now that it is available over the counter, students should carry Narcan with them. She discussed how different both current “street drugs” and cannabis are today and how important it is for students to be careful.
Jill’s book covers so many topics, including symptoms students may not recognize as serious, who to go to for help, test anxiety, tattoos, birth control, today’s cannabis, and the comfort of knowing you’re not the only one with issues.
Why shouldn’t you tell your student that college will be “the best years of your life?” Jill explains why this common phrase may be dangerous.
Why should your kid look for the cool things to do on campus? Jill explains. And so much more.
Be sure to check out Jill’s book, The Ultimate College Student Health Handbook: Your Guide for Everything from Hangovers to
Homesickness. You may want to buy one copy for your student to take to school and one copy for you to keep at home. (Be sure to get the third edition – blue and gold lettering.)
As we often do, we asked Jill if she had any particular resources, besides her own book, that she would recommend to college parents. She suggested several.
The Greatest College Health Guide You Never Knew You Needed by Jill and Dave Henry (This is a great companion book for Dr. Grimes’ book. Students need them both! Check out the recording of our health panel with the authors of both of these books!)
Sex, College & Social Media: A commonsense Guide to Navigating the Hookup Culture Cindy Pierce
The Naked Roommate by Harlan Cohen
What They Don’t Teach Teens: Life Safety Skills for Teens and the Adults Who Care for Them by Jonathan Christall
The Campus Cure: A Parent’s Guide to Mental Health and Wellness for College Students by Marcia Morris, MD
#ONECHOICE: How Ten Seconds Can Change Your Life by Becky Savage
Yes, Your Kid: What Parents Need to Know About Today’s Teens and Sex by Debby Herbenick
If you’d like to learn more about Dr. Jill Grimes and her book you can find more information at her website – jillgrimesmd.com or follow her on instagram@jillgrimesmd. She is also on Tik-Tok and Youtube – @thecollegedoc.
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