Mental Health Issues Faced by International Students in Australia

This presentation examines the prevalent mental health issues among international students in Australia, focusing on the challenges they encounter when adapting to a new environment. The presentation addresses key factors contributing to mental health problems, such as language barriers, acculturative stress, unrealistic expectations, crises, and health issues. It also explores potential solutions, including generating awareness, providing counseling sessions, and utilizing psychotherapy and other treatments. The presentation includes a debate and discussion section on topics like college addiction and the impact of social factors. The presentation is supported by references to peer-reviewed articles and a pie chart illustrating the major issues faced by international students, such as stress, anxiety, and sleep difficulties.

Mental Health Issue Among
International Student
Australia
The issue of mental health is very commonly
noticed among the international students because
when students are introduced to a completely new
environment it is difficult for them to adjust easily.
As a consequences of staying away from family
and domestic environment students often face
depression anxiety and stress. This is because
these days the issue of mental illness is gaining
popularity (Auerbach,2016).
“Sometimes the worst place you can be at is in
your own head”

Mental Illness in Students
 Mental illness refers to the state of mind where serious behavioral
and thinking changes are observed in a person.
 The mental illness affects mood of a person in different ways like
eating disorders, anxiety disorders, depression and addictive
behavior.
 The following condition can be easily witnessed among the
students who are studying abroad (Gluck, 2019).
“Nothing in this world can torment you as much as your own
thoughts”.

Types of Metal Illness observed in
students
 Language barriers
 Acculturative stress
 Unrealistic expectations
 Crises originating in family
 Illness
“You may have to fight a battle more than once”.

Unrealistic expectations
• When children move abroad for studies both the parents and children have developed a lot
of expectations regarding the returns their educational qualification will provide later. But
sometimes it is that these expectations are not met which disturbs the
students(Bruffaerts,2018).
Language Barriers
• All the presentations, discussions made in classroom turns stressful for a student when
the performed out of the comfort zone of student’s native language.
Acculturative stress
Moving from one state to another sounds interesting but it is stressful at times .
The sudden change in climate, food and habitat can lead to major and minor
physical and psychological challenges(Bruffaerts,2018).
Crises Originating in stress
• The unforeseen challenges like death of a closed relative, tensions between parents,
situations of war or any other threat often disturbs the students. Students feel helpless in
such situations and this helplessness turns into depressions and eating disorders.
Illness
Difficulties at new place, change in environment and unavailability of
proper food required may lead to health issues (Bruffaerts,2018).

Ways to cure mental illness
 In order to reduce the stress among students it becomes essential
follow the guidelines mentioned below-
 Awareness should be generated regarding mental health
awareness and well- being(Keyes,2012).
 Universities should arrange counseling sessions for the students
along with this other additional co-curricular activities and one on
one sessions can also be conducted for the students.
 Psychotherapy, brain-stimulation treatments, hospital and
residential treatment program are some of the most popular
methods of curing mental illness (Pedrelli,2015).
 As per the graphical representation
among 7 nations largest amount of
people suffer with mental illness
in Australia.

Debate & Discussion
 Is college addiction stopping students to look forward other facets
of living?
Yes , it can be said that college addiction is reducing the indulgence of
students in the co- curricular activities and keep them away from rest of the
world. As the students are more prone to studies and revisions, they do
not develop a circle and eventually disturbs the mental state of student
(Auerbach,2016).
 Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is beneficial or non-
beneficiary for students.
Pros of ADHD- Multi talented individuals, fast readers and developed
thought process.
Cons of ADHD- Bothersome talents, bad listeners, depression and anxiety.
 How social factors affects the mental health of students studying
abroad?
The social factors can leave a good and bad impression at mental state of
the students. Students are sometimes bullied by others which reduces their
self confidence and promotes depression and suicides. On the other hand
social factors can be positive as well, introduction to new social culture
leads to the all over development of student(Prince,2015).

According to the following pie chart, it is observed that stress is the major issue
faced by the students studying abroad.
In order to cure the first three problems i.e. stress, anxiety and sleep difficulties,
students must exercise regularly.
Another solution for the following problem can be meditation (Reavley,2012).
“Stress, anxiety and depression are caused when we are living to please others.”
(Source: Trzcacak, 2019)

References
Auerbach, R. A. (2016). Mental disorders among college students in the World Health
Organization world mental health surveys. Psychological medicine, 46(14), 2955-2970.
Bruffaerts, R. M. (2018). Mental health problems in college freshmen: Prevalence and
academic functioning. Journal of affective disorders, 225, 97-103.
Gluck, S. (2019). Quotes on Mental Health and Mental Illness. Retrieved from
https://www.healthyplace.com/insight/quotes/quotes-on-mental-health-and-mental-illness
Keyes, C. E. (2012). he relationship of level of positive mental health with current mental
disorders in predicting suicidal behavior and academic impairment in college students.
Journal of American College Health, 60(2), 126-133.
Pedrelli, P. N. (2015). College students: mental health problems and treatment
considerations. Academic Psychiatry, 39(5), 503-511.
Prince, J. (2015). University student counseling and mental health in the United States:
Trends and challenges. Mental Health & Prevention, 3(1), 5-10.
Reavley, N. M. (2012). Mental health literacy in higher education students. Early
intervention in psychiatry, 6(1), 45-52.
Trzcacak. (2019). Factors-disrupting - Mental Health In College Students Graph. Retrieved
from https://www.trzcacak.rs/imgb/imxbmhh/