Looking After Your Mental Health While Studying Abroad
Why it matters, and how to take care of yourself

When you travel abroad, especially for work or study, it’s easy to focus on the excitement: the new culture, the adventures, the personal growth. But while your location may change, your mental health comes with you. And looking after it is just as important as packing the right shoes or learning a few local phrases.

Spending time interning or studying overseas can be one of the most transformative experiences of your life. It’s a chance to immerse yourself in unfamiliar environments, connect with people from around the world, and grow both personally and professionally. But being far from home can also bring challenges: homesickness, stress, culture shock, and feelings of isolation can quietly (or not-so-quietly) affect your wellbeing.

That’s why AES has partnered with mindhamok – a mental health and wellbeing service designed specifically for students studying or interning abroad. Together, they’re working to ensure that support is always within reach, no matter where your journey takes you.

Through this partnership, you have full access to www.mindhamok.com and all its premium resources as part of your AES programme. That includes live chat with licensed English-speaking counsellors, a helpline for real-time support, and structured short-term therapy – online or in person, wherever you are. All you have to do is submit a therapist request, and the mindhamok team will handle the rest. It really is that simple.

You should’ve received an email from hello@mindhamok.com with registration instructions. If it’s not in your inbox or junk folder, just reach out to them at hello@mindhamok.com and they’ll help you get set up.

Living abroad brings amazing highs, but it also means adjusting to a new routine, dealing with jet lag, navigating cultural differences, and being separated from your usual support network. These changes can have a real impact on your mental health.

As mindhamok’s Clinical Lead, Leanne, puts it:
“Your mental health is not something to pack away while you’re abroad. It travels with you. Taking care of it helps you stay present, make meaning of your experiences, and

feel more like yourself in unfamiliar surroundings.”

The support is here so that no student feels alone while adjusting to life in a new country. Whether you’re feeling on top of the world or totally overwhelmed, help is always available.

So go for it. Say yes to the adventure. And remember – your mental health is coming with you. Treat it with care.