Best Practices in Addressing Mental Health Issues Affecting Education Abroad Participants

This publication provides education abroad professionals (located both in and outside the United States) with a better understanding of how to identify and help education abroad participants facing mental health challenges. 

This publication is available as Web pages. Go to the Table of Contents page.

This resource is also available for sale to nonmembers.

• Chapter 1: Sets the stage, providing background information about mental health issues on U.S. college campuses today.
• Chapter 2: Reviews some of the more common mental health challenges that education abroad participants may face, from culture shock to relationships to mental health issues they bring with them.
• Chapters 3 and 4: Discuss steps the education abroad office and professionals can take to minimize the likelihood of a crisis and to be prepared for and prepare participants to face a crisis abroad.
• Chapter 5: Provides guidance for handling a mental health crisis while the participant is outside the United States.
• Chapter 6: Addresses some of the legal issues involved in mental health.
• Chapter 7: Lists Web-based resources for participants and professionals.

The appendices include the references used for this publication and a list of the URLs for the links referred to within the document.

Notice of Liability

The information in this document is distributed on an “As is” basis, without warranty. While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, neither the author(s) nor NAFSA shall have any liability to any persons nor entity with respect to any loss or damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by the instruction (s) contained in this document. Please note that while NAFSA periodically checks and updates the Web site links included in this e-Publication, NAFSA cannot guarantee that every link to another institution’s Web site is current.

Acceptable Use Guidelines

Electronic resources are provided for the benefit of the international education community. However, commercial use, systematic or excessive downloading, or electronic redistribution of this publication are all expressly prohibited.

Released April 2006
© 2006 NAFSA: Association of International Educators. All rights reserved.


NAFSA gratefully acknowledges T.W. Lord & Associates, a NAFSA Global Partner, for underwriting this project.