In her New York Times op-eds, Mathilde Ross, MD charms parents with down-to-earth perspective, empowering messages, and wry wit. Now, with How to Thrive at College, Ross distills the lessons from her two-decade career in college mental health, clearing up public confusion on the subject of mental health on campus.

By inviting listeners behind her office door at Boston University—to sit with students, as she meets with them over the course of a calendar year—she illustrates the major forces that impact the mental health of young people. Some are obvious, some are not; some are downright funny; most are getting no attention in the media. This audiobook restores confidence for those parents doing it right. If you’ve been a decent parent for 18 years, the reward is knowing your adult children can handle whatever life throws at them. Ross nudges the public discussion of mental health in a more helpful direction by increasing understanding and offering pragmatic solutions, as opposed to fanning the flames of anxiety.

College is a rewarding time to learn and develop into an adult. How to Thrive at College will be an evergreen guide to students embarking on “the best four years” of their lives, and for their nail-biting parents at home.