A response to the psychological and physical health risks of international college students studying in the United States: An integrative program proposal

This purpose of this paper is to propose an integrative guide for international college student administrators in the United States due to a demonstrated need present in the research. International students have continued to comprise a growing population within the United States. International students enter the country with particular needs that are akin to those who are culturally dislocated, however, those needs are not necessarily acknowledged within the confines of the universities and the greater culture at large. This paper presents a brief history of immigration and international student involvement in the United States. Various acculturation theories are presented to illustrate the psychological changes that occur during the process of culture shock. Stressors experienced by international students are presented based on common stressors experienced during the acculturation process; particular attention is given to stressors related to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States. Mental health treatment issues often found within the foreign student population are outlined and discussed. The paper culminates with a proposed, integrative guide for small to middle sized universities to implement on their campuses in an effort to train campus personnel and others on the stressors of the lives of international students. Specific attention is given to counseling center staff and the expectations international students may have about mental health treatment.