Exploring the Impact of Homesickness on Mental Health for Students Studying Abroad

Key Points

1. Studying abroad is a great opportunity for students but some struggle to cope with the many changes thrown their way

   
   

2. The feeling of acculturative stress and homesickness can impact student’s mental health leading to depression and anxiety

   
   

3. Language and cultural barriers as well as poor academic performance can worsen these feelings

   
   

4. Student associations can aid in challenges with language and cultural barriers

   
   

5. Course study groups, student associations and academic counsellors can help if you are struggling to maintain your academic standing

   
   

6. It is important to priorities your mental health as you go through these changes

   
   

Excitement at the prospect of a new beginning is certainly an emotion to anticipate as an international student. However, while studying abroad promises the opportunity to, for instance, experience a new culture, learn a new language and encourage independence, there is still a period of adjustment that international students must endure. This period can often invite a wave of emotions, outside of just excitement, and be at great risk to the student’s mental health if they are not careful.

I can promise that if you are struggling to adjust to life studying in a new country, you are not alone. When I initially moved to Canada for school, I underestimated how isolating it could feel to have to start fresh where I knew nobody. Trying to make friends was daunting. At home, I belonged to a community; a group of people I had grown up with and felt knew me. I had not had to try to meet new people in such a long time and I was terrified of feeling judged or alienated. I felt an immense sense of loneliness for some time. This was due to a combination of what is known as acculturative stress and homesickness. These are completely normal feelings for international students but they can lead to bouts of anxiety and depression. It is far too easy to wallow in your loneliness, to feel nervousness over opening yourself up to new experiences and people, but it is also paramount to overcome these feelings. It definitely took time, actively reaching out to people in my class, joining study groups and clubs to meet people, but eventually I found my place. You can too.

Language and cultural barriers are major triggers of acculturative stress and homesickness. Communication and shared experience are the keys to connection. When someone cannot effectively communicate or relate to their peers, it can make them feel alone. Foreign student associations are a perfect solution to this problem. For instance, in our first year of undergrad, my roommate joined the Greek Students Association to feel closer to her family and friends. While part of the study abroad experience is about meeting new people and enjoying a new culture, it can be a breath of fresh air to step into a space where your native language is being spoken or your native food being prepared. This can make you feel more connected to home and help alleviate feelings of homesickness and acculturative stress. Foreign student associations may also have access to resources that the school provides to help you learn a new language, get help with your studies or join other clubs.

In some cases, struggling to maintain academic standing while coping with language and cultural barriers, can also worsen the feelings of acculturative stress and homesickness. Different countries approach academics differently so for some students it may be their first time feeling challenged to keep up with rigorous lectures or assessments. This can encourage students who are already struggling with depression or anxiety from being homesick to either retreat more into themselves or push themselves to the point of mental burn out. Again, you are not alone in this experience. Utilize your student associations or course study groups as a way to get help with your classes. There are also academic counsellors that you can meet with to help improve your study skills. Remember to be patient with yourself and take breaks. School can be difficult and you can feel a lot of pressure to succeed right away but you should not sacrifice your mental health in the process.

As mentioned before, studying abroad brings with it the opportunity to experience so much more than if you had gone to school in your home country. It is a great opportunity to challenge yourself and you should feel proud that you took that step. However, adjusting to your new life can be extremely tricky so it is important to ensure you use the right tools to protect your mental health. For more information on how to maintain your mental health as an international student, please refer to our International Student Experience blog page to stay up to date with new blogs as they are released.