Counseling Services on Campus and their Importance for International Graduate Students

• In Event: Roundtable Session (Wednesday V)
  In Refereed Round-Table Session: International student motivations and adjustment needs - table 2

Proposal

Counseling Services on Campus and their Importance for International Graduate Students
International students (IS) face a number of challenges which include but are not limited to social isolation, difficulties finding a job after graduation, language difficulties, cultural barriers (Hyun, Quinn, Madon & Lustig, 2007). These challenges may be exacerbated by administrators and organizations on campuses that are unaware of the issues IS face, but are still hold a responsibility to provide support to these students. According to Hyun et al. (2007) since September 11, IS have faced heightened levels of an unwelcoming environment at universities in addition to higher surveillance dictated by immigration legislation Acts. It is therefore important to point out that institutional and social support has positively correlated with the well-being and mental health of International Graduate Students ([IGS] Mori, 2000). Administrative support, adequate orientation as well as counseling staff that knows how to effectively address mental health concerns play a vital role in buffering transitional challenges of IS.
Empirical research suggest that IS do not use counseling services as much as domestic students do. A reason for that may lie in the lack of knowledge of their need for mental health services. Another reason could be that some IS rely on health approaches from their culture which in some countries involves non-western and non- traditional health care approaches. Another important reason may lie in the cultural stigma associated with mental health in countries outside of the United States as well within the United States. However, in a study by Zhang and Dixon (2003), they reported that if international students had successfully adapted to American culture, they were more likely to seek mental health services regardless of the amount of years lived in the United States or their gender.
The knowledge of existing counseling services on campus is integral to the utilization of these services. In their study Hyun et al. (2007) reported that 61% of IGS were aware about existing counseling services on campus compared to 79% of domestic students. This is an indicator for a lack of sufficient dissemination of information as it relates to counseling services for IGS population.
This roundtable session will begin with a dialogue about current issues international students face on campus pertaining their acculturation issues as it relates to social, cultural and academic aspects and will then continue explaining issues pertaining their well- being that as a result. This will be followed by current existing counselling services and the under- utilization of them by international students and reasons for that.

Author

• Bettina Teegen, Louisiana State University