“They might think they are not sleeping or eating, and that something is wrong with them physically,” Green said.
“Many times they will discuss their problems with their doctors, and the doctors have to be well trained to respond and ask the right questions so that they can refer them for mental health treatment.”
Cultural stigma
Ellen Yang, a graduate from the University of California in San Diego, said she suffered from insomnia after working on a class project at 3 am during finals week. She remembered feeling very anxious, she was trembling and could not sleep.
She said it took her six months to completely recover from insomnia. She tried telling her parents and friends about her concerns, but most of her friends dismissed these as minor problems.
“It was as if it was raining, but the rain was only pouring down on me,” said Yang, who did not seek psychological help at the time because she was afraid she might have mental health problems.
Steven Sust, a Bay area child and adolescent psychiatrist and clinical instructor at Stanford University’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences in the School of Medicine, said, “It’s sort of like if you have ever been in a stressful situation, and you don’t think there’s anybody who understands you.”
Sust said it’s unsurprisingly difficult for Chinese international students to reach out for help because of the language barrier and cultural differences.
There is also a stigma related to mental health issues in Chinese culture that makes it more difficult.
“Culturally, there’s not as much support for mental health awareness and treatment in the Chinese culture,” said Sust.
Preventive measures
In addition to help from professionals, many experts agree that students need to discuss such issues more frequently among themselves.
Green said, “It’s one thing for the universities to do something, it’s another thing for students to discuss mental health issues with their friends.”
She said reducing the stigma also helps to increase early awareness and detection of mental health problems. Changes in another person’s appetite, energy or mood can be noticeable, which might indicate signs of depression or even suicide.
West-Olatunji suggested putting together orientation packages for students before they arrive in the US to enable them to have realistic expectations of studying abroad.
She also suggested that students form a network, either on social media or offline, which would provide a support system as they move to study in the US.
Sust urged that more international students support each other and share the common experience of navigating a different society or language. He suggested students actively look out for one another, and those with emotional concerns should reach out and confide in a supportive person they trust. This could be someone who you have a close relationship with or may have even shared a similar experience, Sust said.
If things don’t work out, they should go talk to a chaplain/clergy, physician, counselor, coach, or any school staff to help find additional resources on or off campus.
“The important thing is for everybody to realize there’s a lot of help and support available. It’s also an important first step for people to open up and talk about the situation with the other people who they can trust to compassionately listen without judgment and search for available resources together,” Sust said.
