About Mental Health on International Campuses
Studying or working on an international university campus may be rewarding and also stressful. For example, many challenges may exist when adjusting to campus life: a new culture, and language differences while discovering how to access campus resources. Experiences such as these may stir positive and negative emotions such as excitement, joy, nervousness, and fear.
Such conflicting emotional experiences may impact the mental health of some students, faculty, and staff at international universities. When such experiences impact mental health in a negative direction, some students, faculty, and staff may find it unsustainable to study or work on international campuses over time. In short, the mental health of students, faculty, and staff needs to be well supported in order to foster a healthy learning environment.
Listen to the BlogCast
Don’t want to read? Listen to the South of Seoul BlogCast which provides accessible content through the use of AI technology. We don’t have time to read each article but we do our best to make more of our content accessible. If you would like to join our Accessibility Team apply to volunteer with South of Seoul. Please note that the pronunciation of some Korean words may be inaccurate due to AI technology’s limitations.
What is Mental Health?
Mental health includes a person’s emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Mental health challenges affect how we think, act, and feel. For example, mental health stress can affect sleep habits, affecting how one does in school, social life, and physical health.
Why is Mental Health Access Important on Campus?
Access to mental health resources may significantly affect academic performance. Additionally, among university populations, delayed access to mental health resources has an association with substance use, academic achievement, employment, and other social factors.
Why is Access to Mental Health Resources Important?
Mental health resources are tools that individuals and communities can use to manage mental health challenges. Resources for mental health may have great significance in improving lives in individuals and communities.
Why Research How Mental Health Resources are Accessed?
It is vital to understand what may prevent individuals from accessing mental health resources. For instance, a Social Solutions blog on Mental Healthcare Access shares the following reasons:
- Financial barriers
- Lack of professionals
- Education and awareness
- Social stigma
Understanding what prevents access to mental health resources can open doors to improving access to those resources. Similarly, as access to mental healthcare increases, communities and individuals can learn about the importance of those resources and how to access them. The Mental Healthcare Access Social Solutions blog discusses that access to mental health resources can reduce:
- Risk of suicide
- Family conflict
- Substance abuse
- Physical health problems
SOS Public Health’s Research on Mental Health Access at Incheon Global Campus
Understanding the difficulty of navigating mental health in an international setting, South of Seoul Public Health (SOS Public Health) created an initiative through their practicum program to research access to mental health resources at Incheon Global Campus (IGC). University of Utah Public Health Practicum student, Colton Johnson will lead this initiative.
SOS Public Health Mental Health Access Survey for Incheon Global Campus
Mr. Johnson has developed a survey to assess access to mental health resources both on and off-campus among students, staff, and faculty at IGC.
Students, faculty, and staff at all IGC universities will be asked to participate in this survey which will be implemented via email, social media, and group chats. The survey will be open from Monday, April 11, 2022, to Friday, April 15, 2022.
How will Mental Health Access Research Help the Incheon Global Campus Community?
Data from this research will provide information on:
- Resources that the IGC community currently accesses
- Resources that the IGC community is unaware of
Understanding gaps in knowledge among the IGC community on mental health resources will allow SOS Public Health to compile a list of possible resources available on and off campus to university students, faculty, and staff. These resources will be shared on the South of Seoul Blog, Facebook, and Instagram accounts.
Additionally, the research may inform how South of Seoul compiles information for international students across South Korea.
Where Can the Community go to Stay Updated on the Research?
Follow the research by checking out SOS Public Health on Facebook and Instagram. The SOS Public Health team posts information regarding research initiatives and other important public health topics on our blog and social media accounts.
Follow SOS Public Health for More Resources
Follow us on Instagram or Facebook to stay updated on SOS Public Health Initiatives. If you have questions about healthcare in Korea, visit the Health and Wellness in Korea Facebook Group, or feel free to message SOS Public Health with any questions or concerns.
Apply for an SOS Public Health Practicum Opportunity
Are you a graduate student looking for practical experience in public health? Apply for a an SOS Public Health Practicum! Click below to learn more about the SOS Public Health Practicum Program.
Research Design & Implementation Team
UX/UI Supervisor & Editor
Lanae Rivers-Woods moved to Korea in 2011 where she lives in the countryside with her family, friends, and puppies. She holds a BSSW (Bachelor’s of Science in Social Work), a MAIT (Master’s of Arts in International Teaching), and registered by the Pyeongtaek Korean Times with the Korean government as a Cultural Expert.
Ms. Rivers-Woods used her 15 years experience as a social architect, UX/UI designer, and technology consultant to found South of Seoul in 2015. South of Seoul is a volunteer organization that leverages technological tools to mitigate cultural dissonance in multi-cultural communities.
Through South of Seoul, Ms. Rivers-Woods works with independent volunteers, non-profit organizations, businesses, local & federal government, universities, and US military organizations to develop solutions to support English speaking international residents in rural South Korea.
Additionally, Ms. Rivers-Woods founded the South of Seoul smart phone app available for Google Play and iPhone. The app provides information a resources for those living and traveling in South Korea.
When she isn’t in South of Seoul development meetings or working her day job, Ms. Rivers-Woods loves to be outside at skate parks, the beach, or playing in the mountains.
Research Compliance Supervisor & Editor
Ms. Peck graduated from the University of Utah Asia Campus (UAC) in Incheon with a Master’s in Public Health and her Certification in Public Health (CPH). Ms. Peck also holds a Bachelor’s Degrees in Linguistics and one in International Studies with a Global Health emphasis.
Ms. Peck is Korean American and speaks both English and Korean. She has moved between the US and Korea since childhood, finally settling in Korea after graduating from UAC.
In 2021 Ms. Peck founded the South of Seoul Public Health Program which focuses on research and initiatives regarding the health and wellness of multinational residents in South Korea.
Additionally, Ms. Peck oversees the SOS Public Health Graduate Student Practicum Program which provides mentorship and training for Master’s in Public Health students. The program works with two students a semester with a focus on ethical UX research design, survey development, and initiative implementation.
Primary Researcher & Author
Colton Johnson is a current student at the University of Utah, completing his Master’s in Public Health. He holds a Bachelor’s in Public Health as well, from Brigham Young University – Idaho.
Earlier in his graduate program, Mr. Johnson participated in a semester study abroad at the University of Utah Asia Campus (UAC) located in Incheon, South Korea. While studying in South Korea, he became interested in research focused on the mental health of international university communities.
Because Mr. Johnson developed a passion for supporting his fellow international university community, in January 2022, he applied for a Public Health Practicum with South of Seoul Public Health (SOS Public Health). Through his practicum with SOS Public Health, he has begun developing an initiative to increase access to mental health resources on Incheon Global Campus (IGC), a campus that houses five separate universities, including UAC. Mr. Johnson hopes to apply what he has learned from his practicum to his future career in Public Health.
