Take care of your mental health, overseas students!

Even though studying abroad can provide the overseas students with so many rewarding benefits, it is an exciting adventure, but it is also a major life transition. For many of them this is the first time away from home. While they may be looking forward to all the opportunities that come with living in a foreign country, they may also feel apprehensive about the many unknowns. The followings are some common stressors overseas students may experience.

1. The academic environment

English language difficulties and adjusting to unfamiliar methods of teaching and learning are major challenges. Some overseas students may not fully understand the content teacher said in the class. Out of the Class, the communication between the students are very limited, it is hard for them to take the initiative to communicate with others. Back to home, they need to face a lot of homework which do not know how to write.
Different teaching styles and unfamiliar modes of teacher-student interactions as a form of ‘culture shock’: they have to participate in a group here. They have to question the lecturers/teachers … they have to engage, whereas in their home countries …they would never question their lecturers/teachers. Participation in a group happens differently in Australia.

2. The practical tasks of everyday life

Aside from adjusting to a new academic environment, international students needed to develop a range of practical skills to manage everyday tasks and interactions. Some of the students have never cooked their own meals before … so for the first time they are having to budget, source food, cook their meals, do the cleaning, all that type of thing, along with organising transport and accommodation. They must manage their new households and relationships without the familiar normative controls and reference points of home in new environments. They are all new challenges to the overseas students.

3. Loneliness

When coming to a new and unfamiliar place without family companions, the international students will experience new academic and living challenges, with limited social connections. They will have a sense of loneliness, or even isolation. Some students may lock himself/herself in the room all day and do not communicate with others.
On the other hand, due to the cultural differences, some students cannot integrate into the local mainstream society, often feel lonely depressed.

4. Pressure from home and themselves

Some international students who are not wealthy may experience intense financial obligations and pressures, which were detrimental to their physical and mental wellbeing. In some circumstances parents had borrowed money to finance their studies. In other circumstances, their whole community has put in to get them here and so they are under a lot of pressure to be successful.

If the students cannot find a psychological balance point, cannot cope and rebuild self-confidence under the huge pressures when adapting to overseas study and life, it is very easy to create a lot of mental health problems.
Anxiety to be the most common problem. Depression and stress in particular were found to be related to academic performance. Concern about finances was also strongly associated with depression. The associated cultural adjustment or ‘culture shock’ is believed to create anxiety and emotional stress for international students.
We may in some stage experience ‘confusion, anxiety, disorientation, suspicion, and an intense desire to be somewhere else’. We need to adjust to being part of a culture where we are the social minority and may encounter difficulties associated with being different. We may also experience different personal or relationship problems too.

So….what can be done? 

1. A good starting place is to make sure you are getting proper and nutritious food and enough exercise and rest to function well.
2. Try to find ways to meet new people and although it may be difficult at first, nothing can be achieved without trying. Student groups, parties, a host family, religious groups, hobbies groups, social events, and other activities are all good places to meet others. Adjustment and culture shock can be a difficult process that is eased with the development of friends. Research shows that when we are able to develop friendships with domestic students and integrate ourselves into the college community, adjustment and overall experiences improve. International students often attracted to others from their home countries. We encourage all students to expand their friendship base by meeting new people with varying identities and experiences.
3. Apart from studying hard, also play hard after school or during holidays. Watch your favourite movie, play sport, listen to music, picnic or outing, 
   shopping,that you like to do to balance your life. Through those activities, 
   you can relieve the stress in your own way!
4. Above all, relax and take time for yourself, even in the labour of all your class work. Do things you consider enjoyable and things that support your good view of yourself and your abilities.
5. While living back at home you may have had many helpful strategies to deal with difficult situations, but these may not be available to you now. And the above seems not working for you, as a result, you may feel that you are all alone with your problems and that there is no one to talk to. Remember, you are NOT alone! In Australia it is very common to seek help for the mental health issues, even if it may not be common in your home country. There are support services and people available to talk to you – and in private! Counselling provides a safe and confidential space to help you understand and explore yourself, the issues including those affecting the ability to study (e.g. emotional distress, anxiety, stress, interpersonal or relationship problems, homesickness, 
   bereavement), your potential resources and strengths, and to develop the strategies and skills to enable you to get through the difficult time.