STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH
Pre-lockdown I actually found some comfort in being away from home . The excitement of being able to explore a new country with new friends really distracted me from my anxiety and kept me feeling positive and upbeat . But so many previous coping mechanisms have now been taken away .
Add to this the fact that my usual medication for anxiety isn ’ t currently available to me ( the UK has different rules about which drugs to prescribe for which illnesses ) and so I had to adapt to a different kind of medication which doesn ’ t work in quite the same way .
There is some support available at university , but as a PhD student , we don ’ t get access to as much help . Plus , as an international student , there are certain support services that we just can ’ t access . For example , in the States , I ’ m able to get disability support at the university , whereas in the UK , while my mental health conditions are still classed as a disability , I do not get the same adjustments as a home student .
I ’ ve seen so much love and support from my UK friends and fellow students , and I really do appreciate it . But the pandemic has highlighted a few unique challenges that we as international students face , and I think it would be good to reflect on these and consider how we can accommodate for them going forward . After all , universities all around the world thrive off welcoming international students into their community .
Everybody is experiencing different challenges during
I ’ ve seen so much love and support from my UK friends and fellow students , and I really do appreciate it . But the pandemic has highlighted a few unique challenges that we as international students face ...
the pandemic , but I feel it would be a wasted opportunity not to highlight some of the specific issues international students face , and suggest ways in which we can respond to them . Universities can be hugely supportive , but they need to know what the problems are in order to address them .