SpringerLink
Log in

COVID-19 and Mental Health and Well-Being of Higher Education International Students

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Mental Health and Higher Education in Australia

Abstract

This chapter examines the impacts of COVID-19 on higher education international students, highlighting their experiences and the importance of promoting mental health and well-being. The authors argue that student’s mental health and well-being strongly correlate with their academic performance and general experience. Drawing on findings from their research project into the experiences of international students in North Queensland, Australia, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the authors highlight the necessity to support higher education international students with a focus on quality and equity in order to improve their well-being and educational outcomes. Suggestions are made on actions for higher education institutions in relation to providing nurturing, supportive, responsive and needs-orientated environments to ameliorate services offered and address international students’ challenges, and the mental health needs posed by the pandemic and beyond.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
EUR 32.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or Ebook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Chapter
EUR 29.95
Price includes VAT (Germany)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
EUR 117.69
Price includes VAT (Germany)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
EUR 160.49
Price includes VAT (Germany)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free ship** worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
EUR 160.49
Price includes VAT (Germany)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free ship** worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. 1.

    Many international students are facing hardship due to COVID-19. While various Australian states and territories released funds to support international students facing hardship due to COVID-19, the federal government excluded them from the government’s $130 billion stimulus package. The Prime Minister Scott Morrison even suggested that international students unable to support themselves could return to their home countries. The state of Victoria committed $45 million, co-contributed by Victorian universities, to support international students for one-off relief payment of up to $1100. The ACT committed A$450,000 to support vulnerable people on temporary visas and international students without income due to COVID-19. In addition, New South Wales committed $20 million, Northern Territory $5 million, Queensland $15 million, South Australia $13.8 million, Tasmania $790,000 and Western Australia $402 m to help temporary residents and international students—whether it be one-off payments, free mental health support or help with food and shelter.

References

  • Appleby, M., & Bourke, J. (2014). Promoting law student mental health literacy and wellbeing: A case study from the college of law, Australia. International Journal of Clinical Legal Education, 20(1), 461–498.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ahrari, S., Krauss, S. E., Suandi, T., Abdullah, H., Sahimi, A. H. A., Olutokunbo, A. S., & Dahalan, D. (2019). A stranger in a strange land: Experiences of adjustment among international postgraduate students in Malaysia. Issues in Educational Research, 29(3), 611–632.

    Google Scholar 

  • Altinyelken, H., Hoek, L., & Jiang, L. (2020). Improving the psychosocial wellbeing of international students: The relevance of mindfulness. British Journal of Guidance & Counselling, 48(4), 524–536.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • AmbrĂłsio, S., Marques, J., Santos, L., & Doutor, C. (2017). Higher education institutions and international students’ hindrances: A case of students from the African Portuguese-speaking countries at two European Portuguese universities. Journal of International Students, 7(2), 367–394.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2019). Higher education and vocational education. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-welfare/higher-education-and-vocational-education

  • Baik, C., Larcombe, W., & Brooker, A. (2019). How universities can enhance student mental wellbeing: The student perspective. Higher Education Research & Development, 38(4), 674–687.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barkham, M., Broglia, E., Dufour, G., Fudge, M., Knowles, L., Percy, A., Turner, A., & Williams, C. (2019). Towards an evidence base for student wellbeing and mental health: Definitions, developmental transitions, and data sets. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 19(4), 351–357.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bhargava, M. (2020, May 6). Mental health issues have always been poorly understood: Shekhar Saxena. The Hindu BusinessLine. Retrieved from https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/mental-health-issues-have-always-been-poorly-understood-shekhar-saxena/article31516705.ece

  • Bista, K., & Dagley, A. (2015). Higher education preparation and decision-making trends among international students. College and University, 90(3), 2–11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Browne, V., Munro, J., & Cass, J. (2017). Under the radar: The mental health of Australian university students. Journal of the Australian and New Zealand Student Services Association, 25(2), 51–62.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berger, E., & Reupert, A. (2020). The COVID-19 pandemic in Australia: Lessons learnt. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 12(5), 494–496.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cao, W., Fang, Z., Hou, G., Han, M., Xu, X., Dong, J., & Zheng, J. (2020). The psychological impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on college students in China. Psychiatry Research, 287, 112934.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carter, M., Pagliano, P., Francis, A., & Thorne, M. (2017). Australian university students and mental health: Viewpoints from the literature. International Journal of Innovation, Creativity and Change, 3(2), 1–25.

    Google Scholar 

  • Caron, J., Fleury, M., Perreault, M., Crocker, A., Tremblay, J., Tousignant, M., Kestens, Y., Cargo, M., & Daniel, M. (2012). Prevalence of psychological distress and mental disorders and use of mental health services in the epidemiological catchment area of Montreal South-West. BMC Psychiatry, 12, 183.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Commonwealth of Australia. (2021). About mental health. https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/mental-health-and-suicide-prevention/about-mental-health

  • Creswell, J., & Creswell, J. (2018). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cunningham, H. (2019). Responding to what we notice: International student teaching as a pathway to cultural responsiveness. Urban Education, 54(9), 1262–1289.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Department of Education, Skills and Employment. (2021). International student data. https://internationaleducation.gov.au/research/international-student-data/Documents/MONTHLY%20SUMMARIES/2021/Sep%202021%20MonthlyInfographic.pdf

  • Dias, P., Campos, L., Almeida, H., & Palha, F. (2018). Mental health literacy in young adults: Adaptation and psychometric properties of the mental health literacy questionnaire. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15(7), 1318.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dodd, R., Dadaczynski, K., Okan, O., McCaffery, K., & Pickles, K. (2021). Psychological wellbeing and academic experience of university students in Australia during COVID-19. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18, 866.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Firang, D. (2020). The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on international students in Canada. International Social Work, 63(6), 820–824.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Francis, A., & Udah, H. (2020). Coronavirus and Ruby Princess crew in Australia: A call for increased macro level social work. International Journal of Innovation, Creativity and Change, 14(6), 166–181.

    Google Scholar 

  • Friedli, L. (2009). Mental health, resilience, and inequalities. WHO Regional Office for Europe.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gallagher, H., Doherty, A., & Obonyo, M. (2020). International student experiences in Queensland during COVID-19. International Social Work, 63(6), 815–819.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gautam, C., Lowery, C., Mays, C., & Durant, D. (2016). Challenges for global learners: A qualitative study of the concerns and difficulties of international students. Journal of International Students, 6(2), 501–526.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gorczynski, P. (2018, February 22). More academics and students have mental health problems than ever before. The Conversation. Retrieved from https://theconversation.com/more-academics-and-students-have-mental-health-problems-than-ever-before-90339

  • Graham-Harrison, E., Giuffrida, A., Smith, H., & Ford, L. (2020, March 28). Lockdowns around the world bring rise in domestic violence. The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/mar/28/lockdowns-world-rise-domestic-violence

  • Huang, L., Kern, M., & Oades, L. (2020). Strengthening university student wellbeing: Language and perceptions of Chinese international students. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(15), 5538.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • International Student. (2021). Growing destination. https://www.internationalstudent.com/study_australia/why_study_australia/growing-destination/

  • Khan, A., Sultana, S., Hossain, S., Hasan, M., Ahmed, H., & Sikder, T. (2020). The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health & wellbeing among home-quarantined Bangladeshi students: A cross-sectional pilot study. Journal of Affective Disorders, 277, 121–128.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Khawaja, N., & Dempsey, J. (2007). Psychological distress in international university students: An Australian Study. Australian Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 17(1), 13–27.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar, A., & Nayar, K. (2020). COVID 19 and its mental health consequences. Journal of Mental Health, 30(1), 1–2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Last, J. (2001). A dictionary of epidemiology. Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Montemurro, N. (2020). The emotional impact of COVID-19: From medical staff to common people. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 87, 23–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Neto, F. (2020). Subjective well-being of Angolan students in Portugal. Journal of Studies in International Education, 24(4), 456–473.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Orygen. (2017). Under the radar. The mental health of Australian university students. Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health.

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Sullivan, D., Rahamathulla, M., & Pawar, M. (2020). The impact and implications of COVID-19: An Australian perspective. The International Journal of Community and Social Development, 2(2), 134–151.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paredes, M., Apaolaza, V., Fernandez-Robin, C., Hartmann, P., & Yañez-Martinez, D. (2020). The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on subjective mental well-being: The interplay of perceived threat, future anxiety, and resilience. Personality and Individual Differences, 170, 110455.

    Google Scholar 

  • Patel, V., Saxena, S., Lund, C., Thornicroft, G., Baingana, F., Bolton, P., Chisholm, D., Collins, P., Cooper, J., Eaton, J., Herrman, H., Herzallah, M., Huang, Y., Jordans, M., Kleinman, A., Medina-Mora, M., Morgan, E., Niaz, U., …, UnĂśtzer, J.(2018). The Lancet commission on global mental health and sustainable development. Lancet, 392(10157), 1553–1598.

    Google Scholar 

  • Patton, M. (2015). Qualitative research & evaluation methods: Integrating theory and practice. Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pierce, M., Hope, H., Ford, T., Hatch, S., Hotopf, M., John, A., Kontopantelis, E., Webb, R., Wessely, S., McManus, S., & Abel, K. (2020). Mental health before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: A longitudinal probability sample survey of the UK population. The Lancet Psychiatry, 7(10), 883–892.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sahu, P. (2020). Closure of universities due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): Impact on education and mental health of students and academic staff. Cureus, 12(4), e7541.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shafaei, A., Nejati, M., & Abd Razak, N. (2018). A model of psychological well-being among international students. Educational Psychology, 38(1), 17–37.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sherry, M., Thomas, P., & Chui, W. (2010). International students: A vulnerable student population. Higher Education, 60, 33–46.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Soong, H. (2020, May 4). COVID-19 increases risk to international students’ mental health. Australia urgently needs to step up. The Conversation. Retrieved from https://theconversation.com/covid-19-increases-risk-to-international-students-mental-health-australia-urgently-needs-to-step-up-137596

  • Udah, H. (2021). Coloniality of power and international students experience: What are the ethical responsibilities of social work and human service educators? Ethics and Social Welfare, 15(1), 84–99.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Udah, H. (2016). Understanding African immigrant experiences in South East Queensland. (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Griffith University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Udah, H., & Francis, A. (2021). COVID-19: Challenges, opportunities, and the future of Social Work. International Journal of Innovation, Creativity and Change, 15(1), 54–74.

    Google Scholar 

  • Udah, H., & Singh, P. (2019). Identity, othering and belonging: Toward an understanding of difference and the experiences of African immigrants to Australia. Social Identities, 25(6), 843–859.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Udah, H., Singh, P., Holscher, D., & Cartmel, J. (2019). Experiences of vulnerability and sources of resilience among immigrants and refugees. The Australasian Review of African Studies, 40(1), 81–100.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • United Nations. (2020). Policy brief: COVID-19 and the need for action on mental health. https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/un_policy_brief-covid_and_mental_health_final.pdf

  • United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation. (2019). Education: Outbound internationally mobile students by host region. http://data.uis.unesco.org/

  • van Agteren, J., Woodyatt, L., Iasiello, M., Rayner, J., & Kyrios, M. (2019). Make it measurable: Assessing psychological distress, wellbeing, and resilience at scale in higher education. Student Success, 10(3), 1–13.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organisation. (2018). Mental health: Strengthening our response. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-strengthening-our-response

  • World Health Organisation. (2020). Coronavirus. https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus#tab=tab_1

  • Wright, B., & Winslade, M. (2018, August 21). University staff and students are at high risk of ill health. Here’s how to make sure they can cope. The Conversation. Retrieved from https://theconversation.com/university-staff-and-students-are-at-high-risk-of-ill-health-heres-how-to-make-sure-they-can-cope-101070

  • Wu, H., Garza, E., & Guzman, N. (2015). International student’s challenge and adjustment to college. Education Research International, 202753.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhai, Y., & Du, X. (2020). Addressing collegiate mental health amid COVID-19 pandemic. Psychiatry Research, 288, 113003.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. James Cook University, Townsville, Australia

    Hyacinth Udah & Abraham Francis

Authors
  1. Hyacinth Udah
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Abraham Francis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hyacinth Udah .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. College of Arts, Society, and Education, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia

    Abraham P. Francis

  2. Australian College of Applied Professions, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

    Margaret Anne Carter

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2022 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Udah, H., Francis, A. (2022). COVID-19 and Mental Health and Well-Being of Higher Education International Students. In: Francis, A.P., Carter, M.A. (eds) Mental Health and Higher Education in Australia. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-8040-3_18

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-8040-3_18

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-16-8039-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-16-8040-3

  • eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation