International students hit hard by isolation during pandemic

INTERNATIONAL students in Victoria are still suffering pandemic-related mental health problems, leading to increased demand on support services.

Counsellors have been on high alert for self-harm and suicide risk among stressed and isolated students living far from their loved ones.

Preventive mental health organisation Batyr faced higher demand for its support program over the past 18 months, with international students especially in need.

Batyr chief executive Nicolas Brown said its program had helped 8300 students through a tough and socially isolating environment since the start of 2021.

“Add to this learning to navigate a new life, language and culture, our international students have been copping the brunt of it,” Mr Brown said.

Victorian Coroner Audrey Jamieson, in a report in January 2021, said more work was needed to support international student wellbeing.

Ms Jamieson investigated two suicides of international students in 2016 and 2019.

Her findings showed overseas students experienced “financial, cultural, linguistic and other barriers to engaging with mental health services in the community’’.

Although many international students returned home when Australia shut its borders in March 2020, tens of thousands stayed. Those who remained, dealt with the loss of work in retail and hospitality.

Those who retained work were often employed in work that exposed them to Covid.

Council of International

Students Australia president Oscar Zi Shao Ong called for an improvement in culturally appropriate support services.

A report by youth mental health specialist Orygen also found international students were less likely to seek help for mental ill-health than domestic students.