Mental Health Support Services for International Students in Japanese Universities

Abstract

This study looks at how services for mental health, a growing crisis on college campuses worldwide, are being provided and promoted to international students, a portion of the student body that faces additional mental health challenges, in Japan, a country where the culture historically stigmatizes mental health. Using the theories of comprehensive internationalization and cross-cultural adjustment to guide a series of semi-structured interviews, data was collected from international office members, counseling office members, and professors of higher education from five Japanese universities and compiled into five case studies which were then categorically and comparatively analyzed. The study found international offices provided a variety of services and activities aimed at easing cross-cultural adjustment but could improve collaboration with counseling offices. Counseling offices were found to be lacking specialized services and promotion to international students. Furthermore, although perceptions of mental health are improving, advocacy was found to be near non-existent.