INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AND THEIR MENTAL HEALTH …

1 INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS . AND THEIR MENTAL HEALTH . AND PHYSICAL SAFETY. REPORT JUNE 2020. Produced by Orygen in 2020. Copyright Orygen 2020. This publication is copyright. Apart from use permitted under the Copyright Act 1968 and subsequent amendments, no part may be reproduced, stored or transmitted by any means without prior written permission of Orygen. Acknowledgements Orygen would particularly like to thank the 24 providers and five study centres who gave us THEIR time in the national face-to-face consultations, along with all the STUDENTS and staff who completed the online survey. The work currently being undertaken to support INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS studying in Australia is broad, diverse and thoughtful. We hope this report will provide a resource that education providers can share, connect with examples of good practice identified and draw ideas for future areas of action within THEIR own institution.

2 This project was funded by the Australian Government, Department of Education, Skills and Employment EXECUTIVE SUMMARY. Studies have shown that INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS CHALLENGES. are at increased risk of experiencing poor MENTAL Challenges which impact on INTERNATIONAL HEALTH , with isolation from families and culture, STUDENTS ' MENTAL HEALTH and physical safety language barriers, financial stress and academic (as reported by education providers and pressures among the key drivers. Further, INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ) include: INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS have been found to be less likely to seek help for MENTAL ill- HEALTH than the reality of living and studying in Australia domestic STUDENTS . not matching expectations;. financial, employment and housing stress;. Existing literature and surveys regarding the broader issue of INTERNATIONAL student safety difficulties accessing services on and indicate that INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS feel safe off campus.

3 And secure within education settings. However, English language barriers (particularly for this does not necessarily extend to off-campus communicating concepts relating to MENTAL grounds and community settings, particularly on HEALTH );. public transport, where STUDENTS perceived an increased risk of threats to THEIR physical safety. experiences of bullying, harassment and experiences of racism; and Orygen has consulted with INTERNATIONAL perceived and actual safety risks on public education staff and INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS across transport and in the broader community. Australia to identify: the current challenges regarding MENTAL HEALTH In addition, INTERNATIONAL education staff reported and physical safety; the following challenges in providing services and supports for MENTAL HEALTH and physical safety: good practice across the sector in responding to these issues, including management of resourcing limitations.

4 Critical incidents; increased demand for services and increased how information and resources are currently complexity of MENTAL HEALTH presentations shared across the INTERNATIONAL education to services;. Revolution in mind sector; and Revolution i lack of service awareness, particularly regarding HEALTH insurance coverage; and Revolution in mindRevolution i opportunities to increase collaboration and build sector capacity to respond to MENTAL diversity of cultural differences and language Revolution in mindRevolution i HEALTH and physical safety challenges for INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS . barriers. Revolution in mindRevolution i Revolution REVOLUTION in in Revolution mind mind Revolution ii Revolution REVOLUTION in in Revolution mind mind Revolution ii Revolution REVOLUTION in in Revolution mind mind Revolution ii Revolution REVOLUTION in in Revolution mind Revolution mind ii Revolution REVOLUTION inin Revolution mind Revolution mind ii Revolution REVOLUTION in in Revolution mind i Revolution ii mind Revolution REVOLUTION in in mind Revolution mind REVOLUTION in Revolution REVOLUTION in mindRevolution in mindi Revolution in mind in Revolution mind GOOD PRACTICE COLLABORATION AND.

5 INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AND THEIR MENTAL HEALTH AND PHYSICAL SAFETY JUNE 2020 | 4. The report describes seven areas where good OPPORTUNITIES TO BUILD. practice was identified through the consultations: CAPACITY. whole of provider commitment through policy There are a number of existing local, state and leadership; and national communication channels, fora, networks, training and conferences that the enhancing connections and belonging;. INTERNATIONAL education staff considered valuable building MENTAL HEALTH and physical safety and important to the future development literacy and awareness; of the sector. More staff in larger education prevention and early identification of risk providers, notably universities , identified that or emerging issues; they participated in these mechanisms and events than staff working in vocational education promoting and facilitating access to supports settings or smaller/private higher education on campus or in the community; providers.

6 Designing and delivering culturally appropriate responses; and Future opportunities to build sector capacity were identified through the consultations. critical incident management These included: Good practice' was viewed to be that which developing a national INTERNATIONAL student sought to address the challenges described MENTAL HEALTH strategy that could bring by education providers and STUDENTS ; and/ together all levels of government and or demonstrated implementation of existing stakeholders across the education sector practice advice or sector standards (including to progress work in this space;. standards for responding to critical incidents). building capacity in INTERNATIONAL student peer support and mentoring;. addressing other aspects of INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ' lives that create stress or increase risks to MENTAL HEALTH and physical safety (such as financial pressures and employment issues).

7 Providing simpler and more easily accessible information on supports and services;. building the capacity of the INTERNATIONAL education sector to co-design MENTAL HEALTH and physical safety services and programs with INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ;. facilitating dedicated mechanisms for smaller education providers ( private higher education colleges and Registered Training Organisations [RTOs]) to network and share resources;. developing online platforms for networking and communities of practice; and undertaking more research and evaluation to better understand the efficacy of interventions and programs designed to improve INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ' MENTAL HEALTH and physical safety. Consultations highlighted the leadership, innovation and good practice of the education sector to support the MENTAL HEALTH and physical safety of INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS .

8 This indicates both a strong commitment to the welfare of these STUDENTS and a solid foundation from which to build new opportunities for collaboration and continual improvement of practice. CONTENTS. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3 CROSS-SECTOR COLLABORATION 33. INTRODUCTION 6 CONCLUSION 36. THE ISSUE 8 APPENDIX 1: CURRENT 38. MENTAL HEALTH 8 GUIDANCE FOR SUPPORTING. PHYSICAL SAFETY 9. INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS . IN AUSTRALIA. CURRENT CHALLENGES 10. APPENDIX 2: METHODOLOGY 41. CHALLENGES REPORTED 11. BY INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS . CHALLENGES REPORTED 12 APPENDIX 3: FURTHER 44. BY EDUCATION PROVIDERS EXAMPLES OF CURRENT. PROVIDER INITIATIVES. GOOD PRACTICE: MENTAL HEALTH 16. AND PHYSICAL SAFETY. PRACTICE AREA 1 17. WHOLE OF PROVIDER COMMITMENT. THROUGH POLICY AND LEADERSHIP. PRACTICE AREA 2 18.

9 ENHANCING CONNECTIONS. AND BELONGING. PRACTICE AREA 3 20. MENTAL HEALTH AND PHYSICAL SAFETY. LITERACY AND AWARENESS. PRACTICE AREA 4 22. PREVENTION AND. EARLY IDENTIFICATION. PRACTICE AREA 5 24. promoting AND FACILITATING. ACCESS TO SUPPORTS. PRACTICE AREA 6 28. CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE. AND TAILORED RESPONSES. PRACTICE AREA 7 30. CRITICAL INCIDENT MANAGEMENT. POLICIES AND PROCESSES. INTRODUCTION. The incidence and severity of MENTAL HEALTH Education providers identified a number of problems in both domestic and INTERNATIONAL mechanisms that currently facilitate cross sector STUDENTS has attracted increased attention. collaboration and information sharing which are (1-3) Despite experiencing an increased risk described in this report. It is hoped that sharing for poor MENTAL HEALTH , INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS the case studies and examples of good practice under-utilise available support services.

10 (1, 2, identified through these consultations will further 4-6) In 2019, an investigation by the Victorian contribute to the knowledge base across the Coroner's Prevention Unit identified a low rate sector and facilitate continual improvement in of HEALTH service use among 27 INTERNATIONAL response to these issues. STUDENTS who had died by suicide between 2009-2015 compared to THEIR domestic student The report concludes by describing a number counterparts. of opportunities to build connections across government and the education sector and Following the recommendations from this develop a stronger evidence base through investigation, the Department of Education, which best practice could be more confidently Skills and Employment (Australian Government) articulated and defined in the future.