GlobalIt’s important to attend to your mental health and wellness as you plan your study abroad. Cultural adjustment and being in a foreign environment can have a big impact on your mental health—sometimes positive, sometimes negative.
Many students find that the challenges of living in or visiting an unfamiliar culture and environment impacts their sense of wellbeing and mental health. Being away from support networks such as family and friends can additionally challenge your ability to manage and cope with stress. Emotional ups and downs are normal during travel and new living situations, but it’s important to pay attention to how you’re coping and how much stress you’re feeling. You should proactively and attentively plan for how you’ll attend to your wellness and your mental health.
The resources below can help you prepare for your education abroad experience.
- You Can Plan for Your Mental Health Abroad UMN (1 min video)
- Tips for managing your mental health abroad (Instagram reel)
- Self-Care Planning tool: It’s valuable to think deeply about how you'll take care of yourself while studying abroad. Do this in-depth planning activity before departure. (Note: This requires UMN login.)
- The importance of your health and wellness abroad: a 10 min recorded workshop for students going abroad (Mary Krebs, Carlson Global Institute)
- Preparing for your experience: a 15 min recorded workshop for students going abroad (Jill Reister, Learning Abroad Center)
- How ADHD impacts personal and academic success (short online module)