Mental Health Among International Students During Covid-19

When some people experience pressure, anxiety, insecurity and uncertainty that negatively impact daily life during covid-19, international students struggle with issues beyond the pandemic. Because of the physical distance away from significant others and the lack of social support in local communities, international students are more inclined to face mental health issues under the Covid-19 pandemic (Chen et al). Accordingly, mental health support and local resources are essential for international students during this difficult time.

In the remote learning period with the uncertainty of how long it will continue to be, international students are more likely to stay in the local area while other domestic students can spend more time with family and friends at home. Additionally, domestic students go back home for Thanksgiving and Christmas while many international students were not able to go home due to travel restrictions, expensive flight tickets and high exposure of covid 19 during travel. These challenges may negatively influence the mental well-being of international students. According to the study on the anxiety about covid-19 among local and overseas Chinese university students, “fear of instability is higher for university students away from family, preventive measures or infection control policies may be another important source of international students’ higher anxiety levels” (Feng et al.). This study further demonstrates that international students are more likely to face mental health issues. 

As new viruses continuously evolve, parents back home are worried about the international students not being able to get enough care and support. Many of my friends who are also international students told me that they are scared to tell their parents the truth of getting infected with Covid-19. As parents constantly remind them about staying home and having minimal contact with other people, they do not want their parents to worry. This may cause even more loneliness and stress. 

We should be aware of the international students around us, and we should give them support. To effectively increase social support and reduce anxiety, I would recommend having a mental health service that is specifically designed for international students on campus. Additionally, I would like to remind all international students: being an international student is not easy, and we should speak up whenever we need help.

Works Cited

Chen, Juliet Honglei et al. “The Overlooked Minority: Mental Health of International Students Worldwide Under the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond.” Asian journal of psychiatry 54 (2020): 102333–102333. Web.

Feng, Shiyin, Qiaochu Zhang, and Samuel M. Y Ho. “Fear and Anxiety About COVID‐19 Among Local and Overseas Chinese University Students.” Health & social care in the community 29.6 (2021): e249–e258. Web.