MENTAL HEALTH AND EDUCATION ABROAD - Forum on ...

<strong>MENTAL</strong> <strong>HEALTH</strong> <strong>AND</strong>
<strong>EDUCATION</strong> <strong>ABROAD</strong>
F R A M E W O R K F O R T H E F U T U R E

EXISTING CONCERNS
How can we reduce mental health incidences
on study abroad programs?
Should we do better job of screening students
with mental health conditions?

Disclosure
EXISTING FRAMEWORK
Yes
Cleared
(restrictions?)
No, Not Yet,
Not There
No No Follow-up

ADDING MORE LAYERS TO SCREENING
L O C K S T H E P R O C E S S & W H A T W E C A N C O N T R O L
Photo Credit: FrançoisFromFrance
http://www.flickr.com/photos/88943939@N00/4008997987/

60
50
40
30
20
10
0
2011-12 STUDENT INCIDENTS
Mental Health Incidents
20
43
60
2010-11 2011-12 2012-13*
n=368

UCEAP INCIDENT LEVELS
Level 1: Minor (cold, lost passport, minor
homesickness)
Level 2: Mildly serious (beyond routine)
Level 3: Serious (arrest, or impending arrest,
level 2 injury that gets complicated)
Level 4: Severe (suicide attempt, completed
suicide, natural disaster, act of war, severe
illness)

REFRAMING CONCERNS
How can we reduce “our fear” and “the
severity” of mental health incidences on study
abroad programs?
Should we do better job of informing “all”
students about mental health planning?
Can putting into place Standard 8 address our
own preparedness for “any” crisis?

NEW FRAMEWORK
Training
Emergency
Plans
What we can
control
Standard
8
Identify
Resources
Disseminate
information

ST<strong>AND</strong>ARD 8:
CONTINUOUS ATTENTION
How are any inherent risks in the itineraries and
activities communicated to students/faculty/staff?
What mechanisms are used to ensure that all
participants are briefed on emergency procedures for
excursions?
How does the program inform students about
accessing local health and mental health resources on
their own?
How is contact information for these providers
disseminated to students, faculty and staff and
updated as necessary?

BE PREPARED FOR ANY
SITUATION
PRE- DEPARTURE, ON- S I T E , A N D U P O N R E T U R N

JILL
D I S C L O S E D P R E - E X I S T I N G C O N D I T I O N :
S E V E R E B I P O L A R D I S O R D E R I

C L A S S R O O M

Santa Rosa
National Park
Peñas Blancas

ACTIVITIES <strong>AND</strong> POSSIBLE ISSUES…
Students living at field station in Monteverde
• About 10 minutes to clinic (where student would get evaluated,
treated, stabilized and evacuated if necessary).
• 3.5 hours to major hospitals
Refugio Eladio in the Peñas Blancas Valley (~180 mi north of San
José)
• Student would walk or get taken out by horseback or carried on a
rescue board to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve (14 km - at
best 3 hours or less by horse...).
• From there, student would get taken to clinic in Monteverde (10
minutes), evaluated, treated, stabilized and possibly evacuated to
San José (3.5 hours)

Local
Doctors
Helicopter
Rescue Firm
Insurance/
Assistance
Providers
Student
Health
Center
Parents
Student
UC
Resident
Director
University
Counsel
Counseling
Center
UCEAP in
California

KAREN
N O P R E - E X I S T I N G C O N D I T I O N . G R A D U A T I N G
S E N I O R . M E C H A N I C A L E N G I N E E R I N G

EMAIL FROM STUDY CENTER
DIRECTOR
• Student exhibiting unusual and possibly
paranoid behaviors at the residence hall
• Staff is with her now, and will try to arrange
a medical visit (physical cause) with her
shortly. Right now, student seems to be
normal
• We were just wondering if you have any
relevant information regarding her past
health history. Staff mentioned that she saw
nothing on the student's health form

TIMELINE
First email: September 10
Mental confusion and hallucinations
After physical explanation was ruled out
Discarded Physical Reason. Student sent to
Psychologist and Psychiatrist
Diagnosis: Psychotic episode; student could
stay with treatment and meds; student
declined both
Last email: December 21
Diagnosis: Psychosis

Local
Doctors
College of
Engineering
Insurance/
Assistance
Providers
Student
Health
Center
Parents
Student
UC
Resident
Director
University
Counsel
Counseling
Center
UCEAP in
California

YOU CANNOT ANTICIPATE
WHO WILL NEED SUPPORT
<strong>AND</strong> WHO WILL NOT

Photo Credit: Kivi’s Non-profit Communications
Blog and Charity How-To webinar

Photo Credit: Kivi’s Non-profit Communications
Blog and Charity How-To webinar

SMALL GROUP ACTIVITY
I N VENTORY OF LOCAL R E S OURCES

YOU ARE NOT ALONE
Compliance
Collaboration
Teamwork
US Study
Abroad
Office &
You
Transparency
Consultation

KEY POINTS
We will experience
incidences - it’s the reality
Consult and use team
approach, no matter the
size of your office
Put standards &
good practices in place
so you’re ready

●Study Abroad Director’s Manual
●Emergency Preparedness Handbook
Copy available at office & at residence
●U.S. Response Team
●Local Staff
LIST OF RESOURCES
●Local Health Resources
●Assistance and Insurance Providers
●Security Providers

LIST OF RESOURCES
●U.S. Department of State (DOS)
●OSAC - Diplomatic Security
●Local U.S. Embassy/Consulate
●(Health/Psyc Referrals, Warden
Network, OSAC Country Council)
●U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC)
●Other U.S. Onsite Programs

ONLINE <strong>MENTAL</strong> <strong>HEALTH</strong>
RESOURCES FOR TRAINING
JED Foundation Identifying Study Abroad
Students-At-Risk Guide
http://www.jedfoundation.org/assets/Programs/Prog
ram_downloads/StudyAbroad_document.pdf
MIUSA Mental Health Preparations in Study
Abroad Resources
http://www.miusa.org/ncde/tipsheets/mentalhealth
UCEAP Study Center Toolbox on Assisting
Students in Distress
http://eap.ucop.edu/Documents/MentalHealth/SC_Tr
aining_Toolbox.pdf