Health, Safety, and Wellness
Mental Health
Mental Health
InterExchange wants you to stay healthy while on your program, both physically and mentally. Being emotionally well means being aware of your feelings, accepting your feelings and maintaining a positive outlook even if things don’t go to plan. It is normal to feel overwhelmed as you adjust to a new place and new challenges, but if those feelings persist, the resources below can help you.
In case of a crisis:
If you or someone you know needs to speak to someone urgently, please call 988 or contact one of these 24-hour services:
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – Chat or Text, or Call 1-800-273-8255
- Crisis Text Line: Text 741741 (Free in the US)
- The Hope Line: Live 24-Hour Crisis Chats
- The Trevor Lifeline (LGBTQA): Call 1-866-488-7386
- Treatment Referral Hotline (Substance Abuse): Call 1-800-662-4357
- National Sexual Assault Hotline: Call 1-800-656-4673 or Chat Here
- RALIANCE Rape Crisis Center Directory
- National Domestic Violence Help Line: Call 1-800-799-7233, Text “START” to 88788
- Exchange Visitor Emergency Hotline: Call 1-866-283-9090
- If you are a current InterExchange Intern or Trainee and are in the U.S., you can call our emergency line at 917-373-0994
Maintaining Your Mental Health
They say that the best medicine is prevention. Look through these resources for tips and tricks to stay well throughout your visit:
- Mobility International USA: Mental Health Tips
- National Institute of Mental Health: Caring for Your Mental Health
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Emotional Wellbeing
- GoExpat: Maintaining Mental Health While Abroad
- Institute for the International Education of Students: Self Care While Abroad
- International Student Insurance: Managing Your Mental Health
- InterExchange: Meeting New People
- BEAM: Dedicated to The Healing and Wellness of Black and Marginalized Communities
Managing Stress
Stress is a normal part of life, and can quickly become overwhelming. Check out the following resources to learn more about how to manage your stress throughout your stay:
- MedlinePlus: Stress
- Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion: Manage Stress
- FamilyDoctor.org: Managing Daily Stress
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Relaxation Techniques
- Mayo Clinic: Stress Management
- News in Health: Reducing Stress
- Mayo Clinic: Meditation to Reduce Stress
- National Institute of Mental Health: Stress Fact Sheet
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Managing Stress
Finding Help
If you’re finding it difficult to maintain your mental health on your own, you may want to seek additional help.
Your accident and sickness insurance includes access to DialCare, a virtual counseling service. This service is included in your insurance plan at no additional cost, and provides access to mental health care from licensed counselors online or over the phone. You can learn more and register for an appointment in your Student Zone.
Seeing a counselor in-person may also be covered by your accident and sickness insurance. You can search for nearby counseling services in your Student Zone. You will need to pay a $50 fee (deductible) at the doctor’s office, then the plan will pay for 80% of the fees for Outpatient Services (up to $500). If you have questions about what insurance will cover, you should contact the insurance provider directly.
When seeking mental health assistance outside of your accident and sickness insurance, these resources may help:
- Mental Health America: Finding Help
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: Find Support
- International Student Insurance: Seeking Treatment
- Talkspace: Virtual Therapy, Psychiatry, and Medication Management
- BetterHelp: Online Therapy
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: Find Support Toolkit
- ReachOUT: Peer Support for Young Adults
- LGBT National Hotline: Call 1-888-843-4564
- 24/7 Warmlines: Peer Support Before Reaching Crisis
- National Alliance of Mental Mental Illness (NAMI)
- NAMI Helpline: Call 1-800-950-6264, text “helpline” to 62640, or email helpline@nami.org
General Resources
For general resources surrounding caring for your mental health, feel free to check out these different resources:
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Mental Health Resources – crisis hotlines, provider directories, and treatment locators from the CDC.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: Mental Health – overview of what mental health is, and various links for mental health support from SAMHSA
- Greatist: 80 Low-Cost Mental Health Resources – links to apps, online resources, hotlines/call centers, support groups, and podcasts
- International Student Insurance: Mental Health Awareness – introductory video about mental health concepts for international individuals in the U.S. from ISI
- International Student INsurance: Common Issues – ISI explains signs of mental health issues that might be a reason to seek additional help
- National Institutes of Health: Wellness Toolkits – resources from the NIH to maintain and improve your wellbeing in various different aspects of your life
- International Student Insurance: Culture Shock – ISI explains what culture shock is, how to spot it, and how to cope with it
- InterExchange: Culture Shock – InterExchange explains more on U.S. culture, culture shock, and how to cope and take care of yourself
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: Virtual Recovery Resources – links to virtual mental health and substance abuse support groups
