Q&A with Kate B. - Emotional health in emerging adults: A framework for first-year programs

Dive into our Q&A with EF Director of Health & Safety, Kate M. Berge talking about the takeaways from her Forum on Education Abroad panel session exploring proactive approaches to support first-year college students' psychological well-being and life skills.?

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Your first year of college can be such a crucial time for emerging adults. What are some of the major concerns we see these students facing??

At the Forum virtual conference, I co-presented with Dr. Barbara Kamholz and Dr. Sandra Pimentel, PhD , who talked about the dramatic increase in stress levels post-pandemic. One of the most concerning statistics was that this population is asking for help less and less.? Emotional distress levels are increasing, asking for help is decreasing, and as a result this generation isn't getting the mental health resources they need.?

What are the best ways we can offer support?? That weaves directly into how we design First-Year Programs by creating the scaffolding that supports social-emotional learning and placing an emphasis on removing stressful barriers.

We make sure our pre-departure process is robust with a focus on community and individual student needs. This may be the first time many of these students are traveling abroad and clear communication and a defined support network can help alleviate stress around this process.?

For on-program support, it's about having a plan that goes beyond reactive care. We provide in-depth training to our EF support staff abroad that includes our mental health processes and protocols. For semester-long programs, we also partner with Caraway, which offers 24/7 telehealth services for physical and mental health so students can directly access this support throughout their program.?

What are some of the challenges that maybe institutions or providers face in making this level of support possible? How can they overcome that??

Students aren’t asking for help as much as they used to, and we need to meet them where they're at.?

Incorporating an engaging pre-departure orientation is very helpful, including gamification and interactive elements to help bring students out of their shells. They’re going to be traveling together for a semester and we want them to feel like a community.??

We also want to put creating a plan for their personal wellness and safety at the forefront. We want to reduce the number of surprises by having conversations about what to expect on program while also having resources in place if needed.

What are your biggest takeaways for supporting emotional health for emerging adults traveling abroad??

It’s important to be able to put yourself in the place of these students. Remind yourself what you were like at that age, what kind of support would I have needed as a freshman and going abroad for the first time??

For me to take that leap I would have needed a really strong support structure and strong emphasis on community. It’s our job to help them through moments of cultural adaptation and focus on everything they can gain from this experience.?

Learn more about our First Year Programs: https://www.efstudyabroad.com/first-year-programs/custom