An alumna of the Department of Communication Studies at the University of Cape Coast and PhD candidate at the University of Kentucky, Mrs. Annie Amegbeha Amissah says most international student-parents face mental health issues while pursuing their studies abroad.
Sharing excerpts of her PhD research with students of the Department of Communication Studies at the maiden Alumni Connect of the department, she indicated that key factors including financial constraints, time management and academic pressure, and the lack of institutional support negatively impact the mental health of international graduate student-parents.
She said the other factors that pose mental health challenges are cultural beliefs and the stigma attached to mental health.
Alumni Connect
The maiden edition of Alumni Connect was held on Tuesday, May 14 2024 and saw the participation of faculty, both undergraduate and postgraduate students and past students of the department.
It was aimed at reconnecting with past students of the department while motivating the current students.
The programme was also to allow the alumni to highlight their exploits after their completion, and provide them with the platform to reconnect with their alma mater while aiding those in academia to present parts of their scholarly work.
Presentation
Presenting on the topic: “Building Bridges: Supporting International Graduate Student-Parents’ Mental Health, Mrs. Amegbeha Amissah noted that to address the impacts of mental health of international graduate student-parents, there is the need to prioritize education on the menace, encourage institutions to strengthen counselling units to support students and offer them the needed financial assistance.
Tips to study abroad
She hinted that to choose the right programme of study, students need to research universities and programmes that align with their academic and career goals, verify the accreditation and programme reputation, and contact faculty and current students of the said university for insights.
She said, “Determine your specific academic and career goals and identify areas of interest within communication, such as health communication, public relations, or intercultural communication among others”.
To her, studying abroad offers several benefits including cultural exchange, academic excellence, and career opportunities.
However, Mrs. Amegbeha Amissah appealed to the participants to pay more attention to issues of scholarships and financial aid, as well as application requirements in their quest to pursue further studies abroad.
Source: Eric Sekyi/ATLFMNEWS