Increasing Mental Health Awareness Among International Students. NAFSA Region I Conference October 21, 2015

Transcription

1 Increasing Mental Health Awareness Among International Students NAFSA Region I Conference October 21, 2015

2 Presenters Apinant Hoontrakul Ayumi Giampietro Christy Babcock

3 Agenda Mental Health Issues A Common Challenge Stressors, Myths and Stigmas, Warning signs Helping Students Seek Care Insurance Concerns Resources Examples and Discussions

4 Mental Health Issues A Common Challenge Almost 50% affected in the U.S. 450 million people affected Source: National Institutes of Health Source: World Health Organization

5 Common Stressors for Intl Students Second Language Anxiety Educational Stressors Sociocultural Stressors Daily routine (grocery shopping, bank etc.) Communicating with professors and classmates Coordinating a living situation Troubleshooting Asking for help Adjusting to the U.S. educational system Relationship with faculty/staff Class participation Test anxiety Pressure to be successful Interpersonal relationships Peer pressure Financial problems Homesickness/ Culture shock Crises originating at home Discrimination

6 Mental Health Care Underutilized 90% International Domestic 80% 70% 60% 50% 61% 79% 56% International students who identified themselves as ethnically Asian were significantly less likely to use counseling services than other ethnic groups. 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 33% 36% 17% Aware of campus services Considered using services Used mental health serivces Research focusing on Chinese international students found that only 4% of their sample ever used counseling services, even though 45% of them reported experiencing depression symptoms, and 29% reported anxiety symptoms. (Han, Han, Luo, Jacobs, & Jean- Baptiste, 2013) Lack of awareness of services Lack of awareness of problem Resistant to seeking care Source: Hyun, Quinn, Madon, & Lusting, 2010

7 Boise State % International Domestic 23.0% 20.0% 19.6% 15.0% 10.0% 5.0% 5.8% 5.9% 0.0% 0.5% Used Counseling Services Psychiatric Medical (non-psychiatric) 1.3%

8 Myths & Stigmas Saving face/protecting honor Unsure about privacy/confidentiality Might hurt their visa status We might tell their sponsor Visit to counselor will be recorded in student s school record

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10 How To Reduce Stigma Dispel the myths: Clearly define/describe what mental health is and what counseling is Know the facts about cultural differences around counseling Invite on-campus counselors/psychologists to orientation and meet & greet opportunities Educate counselors/psychologists on how to communicate with IS Have current students give testimonials Normalize students concerns and stress Creative ways of introducing counseling

11 Warning Signs Changes in Appearance Academic Problems Social Isolation Noticeable Changes in Mood Unusual or Odd Behaviors Threat to Harm Themselves or Others

12 Seeking Care On Campus Counseling Center: What school resources do you have on campus? Do students know when to go and where to go for what? Health center vs. counseling center vs. international student office Many IS feel more comfortable coming to an advisor first anyway What is your relationship with your counseling center?

13 Seeking Care Off Campus No counseling center? Helplines/Hotlines Relationships with other providers Language Support

14 Insurance and Mental Health What is Legally Required? Questions to Consider: Nothing! Mental health insurance coverage is not required by the government for international students. 1. Do the students insurance plans cover mental health? 2. Does the insurance company offer language support? 3. Do students realize that claims are confidential?

15 Resources In Your Community International Student Office University Counseling Services and Health Services Students Community cultural groups, elders Counseling program interns

16 Resources NAFSA Mental Health Awareness Video Resource: BringChange2Mind: 7CupsOfTea: Pacific International Academy YouTube video on Speaking to Language Learner: Y explained/mental-health-video.php

17 Resources - National Hotlines National Suicide Prevention TALK Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) SAMHSA-7 or It Gets Better Project (LGBTQ) U-TREVOR ( ) or also includes state specific resources The National Domestic Violence Hotline SAFE

18 Examples In-class presentation on mental health and counseling services How to succeed as an international students in the U.S. The importance of self-care An Example from Boise State Pre-arrival Orientation Trained staff CARE Many touch bases with students

19 YOUR ROLE IS IMPORTANT!

20 Interactive Discussion What is your relationship with your Counseling Center? What tactics/programs do you use to increase awareness and reduce stigma? What are some new ideas discussed today that you might initiate at your institution? What are the barriers that you may face when implementing these ideas? What are possible strategies for working through these barriers?

21 Thank you! Apinant Hoontrakul: Ayumi Giampietro: Christy Babcock:

22 References Chen, C. P. (1999). Common stressors among international college students: Research and counseling implications. Journal of College Counseling, 2 (1), Han, X., Han, X., Luo, Q., Jacobs, S. & Jean-Baptiste, M. (2013). Report of a mental health survey among Chinese international students at Yale University. Journal of American College Health. 61 (1), 1-8. Hyun, J., Quinn, B., Madon, T. & Lusting, S. (2010). Mental health need, awareness, and use of counseling services among international graduate students. Journal of American College Health. 56 (2), Mori, S. C. (2000). Addressing the mental health concerns of international students. Journal of Counseling & Development, 78 (2),