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• Strong social relationships and positive peer influences and mentors.
• Personal characteristics such as social skills, problem-solving abilities,
autonomy and sense of purpose.
• Community programs, such as after-school activities.
PARENT TESTIMONIAL
“As parents who are eight
hours away from their
daughter at Clemson, we were
a little concerned about the
distance when she first left for
college. We quickly learned we
had nothing to worry about.
She met some wonderful
people during her first few
weeks of school, who —
realizing that she was a little
homesick — made sure she
was okay. We also used Skype
during those first few weeks,
which really helped us keep
in touch and see that she was
doing okay. It really made us
all feel a lot better!”
Linda Davidson
Annandale, Va.
How You Can Support
Encourage your student to follow Healthy Campus on social media and visit
the Healthy Campus website —
clemson.edu/healthy-campus— for great
resources, information and tips on health and wellness!
Student Health Services (SHS)
One of the factors that contributes most to college success is staying healthy.
SHS staff specialize in treating college students and helping students
manage their health so they can succeed in the classroom and enjoy the
college experience. SHS offers consultation with medical and mental health
professionals about chronic or acute conditions, preventive care, nutrition,
sports-related injuries or managing medications, stress and anxiety for all
Clemson students.
Medical Services
SHS provides outpatient ambulatory care for illness and injury, pharmacy,
lab, X-ray and specialty services including women’s health, sports medicine
and allergy/immunization clinics on campus at the Redfern Health Center.
The Redfern Health Center is accredited by The Joint Commission, a
nationally recognized accreditation and certification organization. SHS is
staffed with nine board-certified physicians and nurse practitioners as well
as many other committed health care personnel. Students are encouraged
to call the appointment line (864-656-1541) to schedule appointments with
one of SHS’s physicians or nurse practitioners. Calling early in the day
helps ensure an appointment time convenient for class and work schedules.
Mental Health
Mental health is also important to living a healthy lifestyle. Students
can seek mental health counseling through Counseling and Psychological
Services (CAPS), located in Redfern Health Center. Services available to
students emphasize a skill-building approach. CAPS offers many workshops
within a therapeutic context that allow students to engage in learning new
ways of adapting to the challenges the college experience offers them. A vast
number of therapy groups also capitalize on the fact many of the issues with
which college students contend occur in a social setting; thus, group therapy
is an ideal form of therapy. Couples and individual counseling are also offered
as determined by the initial assessment of the student.
Given that leaving home and entering the new educational environment
can be a time of transition, paying attention to your student’s mental health
is important. Responding to this time of change with some anxiety and low
mood is very normal. Most students rise up to the challenge and, with your
support and encouragement, can regain their balance. However, sometimes
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