New research has shown that international students are reaching out for help with mental health issues at a lower rate than their domestic peers.
Two representatives from Morneau Shepell, a human resource company hired by Carleton to assist with campus mental health initiatives, presented research and recommendations on mental health issues with international students, as well as how to use technology with mental health support at a Nov. 30 Carleton Board of Governors meeting.
Walker added they are highest on the the rates of various kind of distress, apart from in substance abuse. International students are more likely to wait longer to seek out help for mental health services @CharlatanLive #BoG
— bailey (@moreton_bailey) November 29, 2018
The company has worked with universities in the U.S., such as the University of Wisconsin, to develop initiatives for mental health support specific to international students.
Stephanie Walker, Morneau Shepell’s director of student support, said various factors, including cultural perspectives on mental health and language barriers, have shown that international students are not reaching out sooner or at all.
“[International students] are waiting longer—they’re waiting until mental health issues are more urgent, and we’re seeing them in higher rates of distress when they are reaching out for support on campus,” she said.
One of the ways of getting more international students to reach out is by matching them with counsellors who speak the same preferred language and/or understands their culture, said Walker.
Another study, Walker said, noted an over-representation of Chinese students using the service which matched them with a clinician over other international students.
Walker said more students are turning to e-counselling to reach out for help because it’s readily available and in their preferred language.
She said studies show that 57 per cent of international students who reached out for mental health support, did so outside of regular office hours.
“The reality is the rhythm of students isn’t the rhythm of a traditional work day,” said Barb Veder, vice-president (clinical operations) of Morneau Shepell.
Veder emphasized the use of technology to reach out to more students and monitor their mental health. “When someone is in that moment of saying ‘I think I need help’ and is taking the action to get help, if you don’t act on that right away, they lose their commitment to that change.”
Greg Aulenback, manager of strategic initiatives in the office of the vice-president (students and enrolment) said in an email statement on behalf of both Carleton’s International Student Services Office (ISSO) and Health and Counselling Services that the school understands international students do not often seek out direct counselling support.
But, he said the school hopes to offer an environment that is welcoming and supportive to decrease stress.
“Staff at the ISSO, as well as student leaders, staff and faculty across campus, are trained to recognize signs and symptoms of distress and mental health difficulties and to encourage any student who is struggling to seek out help when needed,” said Aulenback.
He outlined the various resources currently available to students, such as an international student counsellor who specializes in issues affecting international students, online counselling services through Therapy Assisted Online (TAO), and Empower Me, a campus counselling service which can be used in multiple languages. The Charlatan was unable to confirm how many languages are offered.
The Morneau Shepell representatives explained the use of monitoring mental health through online resources to give students better access to help and to monitor if they are in crisis with 24/7 clinical support.
“At the end of the day, it’s not really the data—it’s the compelling story of preventing someone from self-harm.” said Veder.
—with files from Bailey Moreton
