Sending a child off to college for the first time can be difficult for parents, but once the excitement wears off, newfound independence can be hard for students too.

As a resident advisor, or R.A., at N.C. State University, Ginger Edwardson's job is to help the 30 freshman girls on her hall adjust to college life.

"It is scary and it's new and I remember what it was like to leave home for the first time and be away from all of your friends from high school and all of that," she said.

For many students, the challenges of tougher academics and new friendships can make college life stressful. And for an estimated one in four students, that can lead to depression and a whole range of problems.

"We have residents that deal with substance abuse, residents that have been pregnant, residents that have self-injurious behavior, residents that have suicide ideation or thoughts of suicide," said Megan Horan, residence director for N.C. State's Tucker Hall for two years. "I mean, I've dealt with everything."

As supervisor for the 10 R.A.s at Tucker, Horan is ultimately responsible for students' well-being and coordinates support for those who are struggling. Often, that means educating parents about how to approach their students.

"The number one piece of advice I would give a parent is to check in with their student frequently and ask questions about basic things," said Horan. "What did you have to eat today, how many hours of sleep are you getting? Because those are the number one stress factors among our students."

As she chats with a group of freshmen on her hall, it's easy to see that Edwardson loves her job. But she says it isn't easy to be a friend and an authority figure. Still, for students and their parents, it's reassuring to know there's someone looking out for them.

Horan and Edwardson say parents should be on the lookout for some warning signs that something might be wrong with your student:

*not getting involved in campus activities
*not getting along with their roommate
*doesn't respond to your calls or emails
*doesn't want to talk about grades

Support services in addition to R.A.s are available on most college campuses. But Horan suggests that a visit to campus is a good way to see how your child is adjusting to college life.