A Perfect Guide to mental health for international students

Posted date: 15 Sep 2020

Pursuing a higher education course is a new and exciting time for many youth across the globe. You have the ability to evolve as a person and to exploit unique opportunities. It's also likely, however, to be the first time you 're moving away from home, getting out of the comfort zone and fending for yourself. So your higher education time might be really hard too.

80 per cent of students in top institutions have faced a mental health problem, according to a recent NUS survey. About 30 per cent of those surveyed said they had suicidal thoughts as well. So, what do we see from those studies? It is clear that student’s mental health is a pressing concern worldwide. Few years back, the total number of foreign students worldwide was 4.6 million. However, in spite of the fact that these students face a number of specific obstacles relative to domestic students, there seems to be a lack of research on the mental health of students going abroad for their studies.

 It is projected that by 2025 globally there will be 262 million students. If we believe that 25 percent of students in the UK have a mental health problem, we can expect that within the next seven years, 65.5 million students will deal from their mental illness. But in order to change this situation, we need to consider the causes of mental health problems among international students first.

Next, culture shock may be a significant cause of international student’s depression and anxiety. Whether it is a change in social norms, food or general attitudes, when visiting a new culture, it's natural to feel unsettled. But if the feeling doesn't disappear, then you don't have to sit in silence! If you feel low at any point during your study it is necessary to seek advice and help. Homesickness may also be a common reason for feeling down or nervous. International students may miss their friends, family and the comfort of their home because of the nature of studying abroad. While this is normal, it can be very difficult to feel constantly homesick and it may affect your time abroad. It is crucial in this case that you talk to someone about how you feel, either at your institution or to someone you feel comfortable with.

 The country offers community services that include counseling and mentoring programmes to tackle such problems. However, foreign students may struggle to find out the same way a domestic student might about these services. Fortunately, most websites at universities will have a support section where you can contact the service in question. Many universities can have therapy which can be of great benefit to your mental health. If you're dealing with your workload, social stresses, job opportunities or something else that may trouble you, talking to someone is a perfect way to take care of yourself.

 There can be occasions during your course when you feel nervous or low. But make no worries! There are plenty of things you can do during your studies to have a positive effect on your mental health. Next, take care of your physical well-being by exercise and a healthy, balanced diet, which will help you feel more energetic. Why not enter your gym at university? Or become a member of a sports team? Keeping busy and socializing is a perfect way to meet new people who can affect your mental health positively. Furthermore, while you're supposed to work hard, it's also important to take daily breaks to relax. 

 Overall, during your studies, there are many ways you should look after your physical and emotional well-being before seeking clinical assistance.

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GSP Admin