GlobalThe University of Minnesota created the first-of-its-kind position focused on education abroad mental health. The role is primarily proactive, offering training for education abroad staff, program leaders, and on-site colleagues to provide the skills and knowledge needed to proactively support mental health and manage situations as they arise. In emerging, critical situations, the strategist and educator provides consultations to faculty and staff to ensure students get the care and support required. Resources have also been developed to help students be thoughtful about their health and wellness.
Find Resources and Support
Background
About one-third of college students in the U.S. have a mental health condition. The challenges of studying abroad and living interculturally can exacerbate the symptoms of some conditions such as depression, anxiety, or eating disorders, or prompt the development of new symptoms and conditions. These mental health challenges can lead to students leaving their program early. Caring for students’ mental health also takes a toll on education abroad staff.
In early 2019, University of Minnesota education abroad professionals as well as the field of education abroad were recognizing the increasing impact of student mental health on the student experience and on the staff who were supporting them. Discussion among UMN learning abroad, health and safety, and student services leaders ultimately led to the creation of the first-of-its-kind position of education abroad mental health strategist and educator in 2020. It is believed that UMN is still the only education abroad unit at a higher education institution with an in-house mental health expert on staff.
The role is primarily proactive, offering training for education abroad staff, program leaders, and on-site colleagues to provide the skills and knowledge needed to proactively support mental health and manage situations as they arise. In emerging, critical situations, the strategist and educator provides consultations to faculty and staff to ensure students get the care and support required.
Meet the Mental Health Abroad Strategist and Educator
Laura Dupont-Jarrett, Ph.D., L.P., is Mental Health Abroad Strategist and Educator for the Global Programs and Strategy Alliance at the University of Minnesota, providing training, guidance, and resources to staff, faculty, and on-site staff regarding student mental health and wellness abroad. She is also Student Mental Health Strategist and Educator for Student Affairs, providing similar services regarding student mental health and wellness for campus faculty and staff. She’s a licensed psychologist who has worked in higher education over 20 years as an academic advisor, mental health counselor, instructor, coach, trainer, and administrator. She received her M.A. and Ph.D. in Counseling & Student Personnel Psychology; and her B.A. in Psychology and French, including short-term study in France.
Contact Laura at ldj@umn.edu.
Sponsoring Units
The Mental Health Abroad initiative is supported through a partnership between the Global Programs and Strategy Alliance, Learning Abroad Center, Carlson Global Institute, and Office for Student Affairs.