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Holistic Mental Health Support for International Students: Enhancing the Student Experience

Explore holistic approaches to mental health for international students, tackling challenges such as social isolation, language barriers, and cultural pressures. Gain insight into counseling services, stigma, and the impact on student reintegration. Join the panel discussion on November 19, 2015.

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Holistic Mental Health Support for International Students: Enhancing the Student Experience

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  1. Dealing with mental health holistically to enhance the international student experienceISANA Panel Discussion Thursday 19th November, 2015 Suzanne Dick

  2. General themes for all services Period of transition • In 2014 biggest recruitments of international students was from China (27%) and Malaysia (26%) • next biggest group was South Africa which accounted for 5% of international enrolments Social isolation (initially?) Language barriers Promotion and uptake of services Pressure from family/ culture to succeed Financial stress • Paid in cash • Discrimination/ harassment Resourcing Gender roles Model of education • Rote learning vs independent thinking Visa issues

  3. Unique themes to counselling Stigma – mental health/ counselling Limited framework for understanding the counselling process Ability to provide documentation Boundaries of the therapeutic relationship Irregular attendance (?) Complex (?) Limited access to public mental health services Reluctance to access private providers of psychological services Impact of counselling on the client’s ability to reintegrate into home country

  4. Services offered 1:1 counselling • 3-6 sessions Groups • Mindfulness for Academic Success • Mood Surfing • SMART • Brain Management • Lunchtime mindfulness External referral

  5. Main considerations for counselling Building engagement Orientation to the counselling process • Not a medical doctor • What a counsellor does • How to use the time • The importance of the client giving feedback Indicate commitment to helping • e.g. providing practical support for under loading, special consideration Attending to the basics (diet, sleep, exercise) Negotiating clear goals for treatment • What is possible in the time frame? • What is the client’s intention (e.g. return home/ stay in Australia) • Solution focused vs therapeutic work

  6. Conclusions International students • Remain under-represented as a proportion of total counselling clients • Often present with more complex needs which create challenges for service provision in an environment of reduced resources • May require modified approaches to counselling (more orientation, slower pace, more targeted goals etc) • Benefit from engagement with counselling services

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