College student mental health in Japan: A Fulbright International Education Administrators project prepared by Eric Kroetsch
Published on Jun 22, 2022
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College student mental health in Japan:
A Fulbright International Education Administrators project prepared by Eric Kroetsch
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Project Questions
- What mental health challenges are commonly expereicned by college students in Japan, and international students, in particular?
- How are Japanese universities addressing college student mental health challenges?
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Importance of Questions
- Understanding mental health challenges commonly expereicned by college students in Japan might help me be more empathic.
- Understanding how Japanese universities address college student mental health challenges might provide me with some additional professional tools to use.
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Japanese Cultural Informant
Takehito Kamata, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Sophia University
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Internviewed mental health professionals at Keio Univeristy and Sofia University.
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What I learned:
Stressors, Mental Health Challenges, Coping Mechanisms, and Support Services
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Unhealthy Stressors
- Extreme focus on how one is perceived
- In-groups & Out-groups (those who didn't attend a Keio high school)
- Ashamed to show weakness, resulting in not seeking help
- Unrealistic expectations
- Victim of previous trauma or bullying
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Pandemic Stressors
- Behavioral restrictions & social distancing
- Social distance and quarantine resuting in isolation, loneliness
- Grief (loss of loved ones, social and employment opportunities)
- Anxiety (getting ill, future plans, can't focus on assignments)
- Return to in-person social interaction
1. Too much stimulation can be exhausting, and some students from rural areas may not be used to life in a large city, resulting in homesickness.
2. COVID-19 called on people to exercise behavioral restrictions and social distancing. Because of them, in early stage of the pandemic of COVID-19, many students faced a sustained emotional burden and were experiencing increased levels of stress, isolation, and loneliness, as well as grief and anxiety, related to disruption of routines, and future plans.
These factors may significantly contribute to a rise in prevalence and severity of mental health issues and significantly increase the demands for services in the future. It is also likely that there will be an impact on the psychosocial development of this generation of students.
2. COVID-19 called on people to exercise behavioral restrictions and social distancing. Because of them, in early stage of the pandemic of COVID-19, many students faced a sustained emotional burden and were experiencing increased levels of stress, isolation, and loneliness, as well as grief and anxiety, related to disruption of routines, and future plans.
These factors may significantly contribute to a rise in prevalence and severity of mental health issues and significantly increase the demands for services in the future. It is also likely that there will be an impact on the psychosocial development of this generation of students.
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Support Services
- Group activities 6 times a year at Keio (freshman, emotional intelligiance, stress & anxiety)
- International student integration activities (pottery, traditional dancing, cooking, field trips)
- Talk therapy
- Referrals to community resources for meds and severe psych issues
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Take-a-ways
- Stressors, mental health challenges, and support services similar to U.S.
- Counselors at or past capacity
- Counselors sustained with support from family, friends, and colleagues
- Talk therapy is mainstream; Eastern counseling methods are not popular
- Japanese speakers have a more positive, immersive experience
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