A Letter to Parents
At just after 2 AM on a Sunday morning in October, Hamilton College's security chief received an emergency phone call. A first-year female student at the elite upstate New York liberal arts school had collapsed after downing 22 one-ounce shots of vodka in a drinking game. Sadly, the event was far from unusual: She was one of 20 students who had been rushed to the hospital that semester. — excerpt from Binge: What Your College Student Won't Tell You, by Barrett Seaman, Wiley, 2005.
It has really never been easy to be a concerned parent. I think it may be even more difficult these days. Maybe the media has some influence; certainly peers weigh significantly in influencing our children's behaviors; but in spite of being deeply loved, cared about and provided for, sometimes children make poor choices. Sometimes it's about drugs or alcohol. In other instances, it's about body image and self-esteem. For some girls the problem is feelings of depression or anxiety, which can be hard for others to understand. All of these issues are debilitating – impacting grades, relationships and well-being.
Making a difference in these girls' lives is why Timberline Knolls exists. I know that half of all lifetime cases of mental illness occur before age 14. We have created a center of programs to address these issues, a center that can save and improve lives. I encourage you to browse this website to learn more about our approach, philosophies and staff. I personally welcome your phone call, email or visit.