International students in Australia have poorer mental health than many of their domestic peers
When Samreen Tanveer left Dhaka, in Bangladesh, for Sydney, nothing had prepared her for life in a foreign country so unlike her own.
"The people are different. Your surroundings are different. You're away from your family, your friends and everything that's familiar," the former University of NSW student tells
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"It's a whole new country ... a whole new experience."
When Koushik Mukherjee farewelled his parents and younger sister in India at the end of 2021 so he could study in Melbourne, he too grappled with life in a new country
"[Lack of] job security, along with loneliness, do contribute towards that extra bit of mental stress. And right now you can also add the housing crisis in there," he says.
Housing was also a challenge for Ms Tanveer, who describes navigating the Australian rental market as "overwhelming".
International student Koushik Mukherjee struggled with loneliness when he first moved to Australia.
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It's the same housing crises both major parties are hoping to alleviate by capping international student numbers in an effort to return migration rates to pre-pandemic levels.
A recent study found
This discussion has created enormous uncertainty for international students.
And it comes after research, released last year, revealed international students experience worse mental health than domestic students.
Discrimination, racism and abuse
International students experience several mental health issues, including higher levels of anxiety compared to their domestic counterparts, according to the findings published in
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More than half of those surveyed experienced discrimination, racism and abuse, with female international students scoring significantly higher when it came to physical and or verbal abuse, sexual harassment and exclusion.
International students also encountered many challenges in their attempts to settle in Australia, including difficulty adjusting, social isolation, language barriers and culture shock.
Other reports show that they can also face loneliness, a higher risk of social exclusion, psychological stress and, in some cases, self-harm.
One of Ms Tanveer's biggest challenges when she first arrived in Australia was her battle with homesickness.
"
Being away from my family and friends was tough, especially in the beginning. It was hard not having the usual support network that I was so used to.
"
'Neglect by government'
Last year, there were more than
We have the second highest share of international students globally, and education is our fourth largest industry.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, international students generated
Dr Gaby Ramia believes universities should do more to look after the mental health of international students.
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But a report last year by Gaby Ramia, professor of policy and society at the University of Sydney, claimed universities aren't doing enough to help those students with their mental health needs.
The report was triggered by a 2021 coroner's report that revealed 47 international students died by suicide between 2009 and 2019 in Victoria alone.
Dr Ramia says international students lack protection in the welfare system and they are much less likely to seek help.
"They're at a disadvantage both in terms of long-term policy and legal neglect by governments on both sides of politics," he told
"There is a code of practice which guides educational institutions in the way they deal with international students. And if you look at the provisions, they look actually quite good.
"But at their base, they're basically recommendatory and they're not mandatory for the educational institutions to provide services."
Dr Ramia says there are also particular societal difficulties that international students have to deal with.
"
They're at greater risk of exploitation in their part-time employment, greater risk of precarious and exploitative housing conditions, financial insecurity, food poverty, racism and discrimination.
"
There is also the lack of income protection through the social security system, which came to the fore during the COVID pandemic.
'Scary and unsettling'
Jo Cassidy, the associate director of RMIT's student wellbeing hub, is not surprised by these findings.
In 2024, 24 per cent of total enrolments at the education institution, located in the heart of Melbourne, were international students.
International students contend with issues like racism and discrimination, as well as struggling with feelings of homesickness and exclusion.
(
Unsplash: Eric Ward
)
Homesickness and a lack of belonging are consistent themes among those who seek out her team of 16 counsellors.
Another issue is navigating a completely different system to what they may be used to in their home countries.
"All of our systems — banking systems, the way that we work — are very different. So navigating all of those things can be really difficult," explains Ms Cassidy.
"And then there's global events that happen within their own countries and within our country."
It's something Ms Tanveer experienced first hand when
"That was really scary and unsettling," she says.
Then there are issues of racism, as well as cost of living concerns.
"They do report incidents of racism, and our Safer Communities Team [offers] support on that issue as well," says Ms Cassidy.
"
And we definitely see students struggling with the cost of living. We have a small student hardship assistance fund with some guidelines and parameters around that.
"
The cost of living, including rising rents, are a concern for many of Australia's international students.
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ABC News: Margaret Burin
)
So, what are the solutions?
Mr Ramia doesn't believe universities are to blame for international students' poor mental health, but he says they need to be compelled to act by government.
"[Universities] do what they need to do under the law, but they very rarely will step up to think outside the box and provide services that are actually needed on the ground," he says.
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"What we're recommending … is for universities to come together with other organisations that provide services in terms of mental health, but also allied services [to assist with] housing, broader health and, in particular, financial insecurity."
Embracing growth
Despite the obstacles that can come with leaving home and moving to a new country, students like Ms Tanveer and Mr Mukherjee are making the most of their life in Australia.
"Looking back, I've grown a lot since arriving," says Ms Tanveer.
"I've learned to navigate new environments, take on new responsibilities and adapt to different situations, which has strengthened my character and shaped me into a better version of myself."
Meanwhile Mr Mukherjee is continuing his Bachelor of Business studies. Earlier this year, he was selected as a finalist at the AFR's Top 100 Future Leaders Awards.
"I miss [home] … but I feel like Melbourne [and] RMIT has been so welcoming and [it's] such a diverse place."
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