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50-Minute Sessions

Education Abroad (EA)

Facilitating Belonging to Avoid Mental Health Crises in Study Abroad

Wednesday, May 28, 2025
2:30 PM – 3:20 PM PST
Despite increased risk for student mental health crises in education abroad, there is a lack of trained staff and programming to address this concern. Using the "pyramid of support" model, staff who do not specialize in mental health can facilitate belonging among students—a strong protective factor—to improve safety and optimize learning. In this session, mental health therapists and third party providers discuss collaboration on shared goals surrounding student well-being.

Learning Objectives:

  • Explore critical gaps in mental health support and gain information to improve safety and learning outcomes for students.
  • Understand the gap between the current mental health support model in study abroad as informed by risk and crisis management and research-validated mental health supports which are strengths-based and emphasize belonging proactively embedded into programming.
  • Apply evidence-based mental health models into global education via partnerships between specialized mental health professionals and study abroad organizations.