Australian Institute of Management, Sydney, Australia.
School of Nursing, University of Tasmania, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Issues Ment Health Nurs. 2020 Jun;41(6):494-499. doi: 10.1080/01612840.2020.1716123. Epub 2020 May 7.
Collectively, universities and other tertiary education providers globally, attract significant numbers of international students each year. However, the extent and significance of the benefits derived by the host society from this international mobility is often misunderstood, or at best, underestimated. International students commonly provide multiple benefits to the financial and cultural health of the host institution and country but the economic benefit (for the host) is typically the primary consideration. A potential challenge or circuit-breaker for host institutions is the failure to acknowledge the particular differences between the needs of international students and their domestic counterparts. For some international students, the adjustment to studying offshore and experiencing an array of academic and personal development possibilities not otherwise available to them in their home country, may be overwhelming and contribute to unforeseen and unfortunate consequences for their mental health. All students in new settings, irrespective of background, require strong guidance, advice and support. However, the challenges of acculturation and adjustment to the stressors of academic study and everyday life in another country is accentuated for many international students rendering them a vulnerable student population. Irrespective of the number of international students in an educational setting, and given the steady growth in the number of students seeking educational opportunities overseas, there is an urgent need to ensure that adequate resources are provided for the support of all international students across all aspects of academic life. The importance of maximising the benefits and minimising the risks associated with international study for overseas students cannot be overstated. A quality experience for all, underpinned by an evidence-based and resourced safety net of support with specific training for mental health professionals, should be considered a global industry standard.
总的来说，全球的大学和其他高等教育机构每年都会吸引大量的国际学生。然而，东道社会从中获得的利益的程度和意义往往被误解，或者充其量被低估。国际学生通常为所在机构和国家的经济和文化健康提供多种益处，但经济利益（对东道国而言）通常是主要考虑因素。对于东道机构来说，一个潜在的挑战或障碍是未能认识到国际学生的需求与国内学生的需求之间的特殊差异。对于一些留学生来说，调整到海外学习并体验一系列在本国无法获得的学术和个人发展机会，可能会让人感到不知所措，并对他们的心理健康产生意想不到的不幸后果。所有在新环境中的学生，无论背景如何，都需要强有力的指导、建议和支持。然而，对于许多留学生来说，文化适应和应对学术学习和日常生活压力的挑战更加突出，使他们成为一个脆弱的学生群体。无论一个教育机构中的国际学生数量如何，考虑到越来越多的学生在海外寻求教育机会，都迫切需要确保为所有国际学生在学术生活的各个方面提供足够的资源支持。最大限度地提高国际学生学习相关的利益并最小化风险的重要性怎么强调都不为过。为所有人提供高质量的体验，并以基于证据和资源的支持安全网为基础，其中包括针对心理健康专业人员的特定培训，这应该被视为全球行业标准。
