STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH
Mental Health , COVID 19 and Studying at University
Kayla is a PhD student from California , who is currently studying towards a doctorate with the Institute of Medieval Study at the University of Leeds .
As a 25 year old international PhD student , I ’ m expected not to need the same level of support as an undergraduate . It ’ s true that , as an international postgrad , we do have more experience of studying in a university setting in a country far from home . However , there are many hidden challenges that international students face – particularly those who have diagnosed mental health problems like me . And these very specific challenges , which have been amplified during the pandemic , are probably things we can work together to address – if only enough people have awareness of them .
I studied for my undergraduate degree in Long Beach , which was just a two-hour journey from where I grew up . As part of my course , I spent five months in the UK and then moved into my Masters study at the University of Nottingham . I ’ m now part way through my PhD at the University of Leeds – and I ’ m still trying to get my head around how to access consistent and effective mental health support as an international student .
When I was a teenager , I was diagnosed with Generalised Anxiety Disorder , Depression , PTSD and Panic Disorder . I ’ m not alone in facing such illnesses as a student , but my experience of accessing treatment , of feeling isolated and of making difficult decisions regarding travel to see family are amplified – as they are for any international student currently studying during the pandemic .
Adding Lockdown Into the Mix
Before lockdown , if something bad happened , I was able to go home for a visit . For example , after a really traumatic breakup , the first thing my mom did was buy me a ticket to fly home . Things are different now , and I haven ’ t been able to go home since the summer of 2019 . I had booked a trip home for April 2020 , but obviously , that has come and gone , and I have missed out on two years of milestones including the birth of my first nephew .
The problem is , there are so many things to consider as an international student that others might not realise . If you think lockdown life is confusing and complex , imagine if you have two different sets of government rules to consider .
There was a point in December when I was able to travel legally , just as other students were able to travel to their parents ’ homes in the UK . However , given all the uncertainty , I was concerned that if I did travel , and another sudden change to the rules came into force , I ’ d be stuck in the States and unable to complete my PhD – something I ’ ve worked towards for many years . Of course , there might have been the possibility of virtual study if I had got stuck , but then you have to factor in the time differences and it would have just been too much of a risk to my work . I also had to consider the fact that different states have different legislation , and I would have had to spend two weeks in a hotel to isolate when I arrived – something that my anxiety disorders would have thrived on !
So , Christmas was spent with my boyfriend and his family in the UK , though I was lucky enough to have several places to go ; my friend Lexie in Nottingham offered to host me and so did my friends in Leeds . I am so incredibly grateful that I had somewhere welcoming and friendly to go to . But of course , I missed my family – especially my mom and nephew – enormously .
If you think lockdown life is confusing and complex , imagine if you have two different sets of government rules to consider .