Depression Among International Students

Running head: DEPRESSION AMONG INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
DEPRESSION AMONG INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
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DEPRESSION AMONG INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
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Introduction
In recent times studying abroad has become increasingly widespread among post-
secondary students. With the stirring trend, Canada has developed as one of the most opted
countries which welcome students across the world to offer them high standard educational
services. Undoubtedly, international students comprise of exceptional and unique academic
experiences when they receive educational opportunities from establish Canadian universities.
However these experiences often tend to be an insignificant part of their lives. According to
Mesidor and Sly (2016), an appropriate balance between achieving proper educational services
and maintaining a healthy psychological welfare has turned out to be a crucial area of concern
amongst international students. Significant lack of company, cultural differences in addition to
see real uncertainty regarding the prospective days have been deteriorating the mental condition
of these students as they experience critical mental issues such as depression (Rahat & Ilhan,
2016). The aim of the following paper is to analyse the underlying factors related to deteriorating
mental condition of international students and recommending relevant social policies to improve
their mental conditions and future.
Discussion
International students cannot avoid the cultural shock as well as alteration which they
encounter while studying overseas. As a result, these alterations can be ascribed to the
acculturation procedure. According to Glass & Westmont (2014), these changes have their
occurrences a cross cultural, physical, social association, biological domains as well as through
behavioral patterns and mental health status. Çivitci (2015 has suggested a transactional model of
anxiety and surviving which it has been construed that mental health and adjustment by the

DEPRESSION AMONG INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
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acculturation experience of an individual along with the rise of a culturally active stresses along
with the skills of managing depression. However, the acculturation process can be constructive
with the enhancement of an individual's life probabilities and psychological condition in the
overriding cultural realm or can tend to show a certain level of lack of enthusiasm.
However, the destructive side of the acculturation procedure tends to take place because
of the inherently stimulating characteristics of alteration to new cultural as well as social
prospects. Beech (2015) in his studies has discussed the obstacles and challenges experienced by
international students who have been joining institutions of higher education in Canada. These
areas of challenges primary involve language difficulties challenges in embracing academic
culture, misinterpretation in addition to difficulties in communication with ability as well as
peers, culture shock, strain, monetary hardships, lack of suitable accommodation, isolation thus
leading to cause depression. On the other hand, language is considered as one of the major
academic challenges which tend to hinder this mood adjustment process of international
students. Studies of Collins et al. (2014) have revealed that lack of English proficiency for
international students have turned into a major obstacle in achieving successful participation in
host community. Such a major obstacle has resulted to significant failure for international
students in interpreting lectures given by instructors and communicating with classmates in
graduate level classes.
While, it is justly decisive that international students tend to face social isolation in the
initial parts of their stays leading to psychologically detrimental condition, it has received
substantial scholarly attention. Glass and Westmont (2014) have explained that academically
attentive communal of practice that overseas students found and assess it to the extensive casual
links of home students. Drawing relevance from these aspects, authors have claimed that