Leaving my family behind at 12 years old to go to school in the States reframed how I see mental health and loneliness. Through my own experiences and those of people around me, I began to recognize the barriers that young students living abroad can face when seeking mental health support. While everyone’s story is different and we all experience stress in different ways, this post explores several factors that might shape mental health challenges for young Chinese people living abroad in the U.S..

For many young international students, living abroad means spending one or multiple semesters in the U.S. without seeing family or friends from home. In some Chinese families, traditional views heavily shaped by Confucian values emphasizes prioritizing family needs, practicing filial piety, and leaning on relatives rather than external individuals when life gets tough. For example, parents might confide in their children about the challenges of caring for their grandparents, creating a sense of shared responsibility within one’s family.

Being a part of the family support system is not easy when you’re thousands of miles away. Traveling home can be time consuming and financially burdensome. I know firsthand how hard it can be to worry about a loved one’s health and wellbeing from the other side of the ocean. On top of that, with today’s ever-shifting political climate, many international students and working graduates may be hesitant to visit home because they worry about potential difficulties returning.

Beyond the physical distance, there’s the daily pressure of trying to navigate a world that feels unfamiliar. Back home, family may provide a familiar source of comfort and support. Without that, young people living abroad often have to find new ways to cope with stress, whether it comes from academic pressure, interpersonal conflicts, or the challenges of adjusting to a different culture.

Seeking mental health care can also be complicated by stigma and a lack of understanding of mental health in some families. In some households, mental health struggles may be interpreted as a personal failure or a source of shame for the family. Some may feel the need to suppress negative feelings to maintain family harmony. These attitudes are not universal across Chinese or Asian families, but when they are present, they can make it harder for individuals to recognize their struggles, explore available resources, or seek professional support.

Having a supportive family makes a world of difference when you’re working through mental health challenges, but that support can be hard to get sometimes. As young people adapt to life in the States, they may become more comfortable discussing mental health and seeking professional help. But their families back home may not share the same understanding, making it difficult to have open conversations about emotional well-being.

You don’t have to navigate a new environment alone. There are organizations and communities that can help you find support:

• Culturally responsive mental health care: Look for providers and organizations that understand the cultural context and experiences of people from backgrounds similar to yours. In ICH’s evaluation of a culturally responsive substance use recovery and reentry program for Black and Latino men, we heard about how important it was for people in recovery to feel like the providers they worked with understood their experiences and backgrounds. The same sentiment is also heard through the evaluation of Advancing Community-Driven Mental Health (ACDMH) program, where non-clinical staff is providing evidence-based mental health interventions in community-based settings.
• Local community organizations that support social needs: Look for community-based organizations that offer resources, legal assistance, language support, or connections to other forms of support.
• Peer support communities: Connecting with others who share similar backgrounds provides a safe space to share stories and advice.

Here are some organizations to start exploring:

• Asian Mental Health Collective (AMHC): https://www.asianmhc.org/
• Quincy Asian Resources, Inc. (QARI): https://www.qariusa.org/
• Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA): https://www.miracoalition.org/
  • Click here to read more about the Leah Zallman Center for Immigrant Health Research’s partnership with MIRA to study the role of narratives in shaping frontline workers’ implementation of policies that advance immigrant inclusion and well-being.