Expat Life and Staying Mentally Healthy

The giant steps you take when relocating overseas
Moving abroad is a pretty big decision for anyone to make. And if you’re a prospective expat, it involves undertaking a lot of research before even buying your airline ticket. The things people need to arrange before moving abroad include the following:

• Ensuring visa requirements are met
• Accommodation
• Education for school-age children
• Language training
• Moving and storage of possessions

And so on. There are a lot of practicalities to think about. And one of the consequences of this is that, if you’re a newly arrived expat, there will be so much going on that you hardly have a moment to get bored or distracted.
Tips for mental health on arrival overseas
As a result of all this activity, as well as the sometimes strange feeling of being newly abroad, it’s tempting to withdraw into your shell. However, this part of the transition into a new life should also incorporate your social surroundings, too.

It’s good to meet new people, and newly arrived expats should accept invitations to socialise with colleagues socially and just generally get out and about. It’s natural to feel a certain amount disconnection and isolation type feelings when you go abroad – we’re only human, after all.
Keeping up communications with friends and family is also an important factor in staying happy and mentally healthy while living in a foreign country. And if you have friends in your new location, make time to see them, and discuss any challenges you’re facing as regards settling in to your new country of residence. While friends and family may not be able to offer practical assistance, it’s still valuable to share your experiences with someone sympathetic.

The three-month ‘crash’
In a recent interview with an online expat newspaper, the head of counselling services provider the Truman Group outlined one common expat scenario. Essentially, what happens with many people who’ve been living abroad for a while is that after approximately 3 months there can be a ‘crash’ effect. People at this point are apt to feel flat, and sometimes a bit down, too.

After all the excitement, and the flurry of activity accompanying the move abroad, it’s understandable that once all the initial challenges have been met, that ordinary day to day life suddenly seems like a new situation in itself. Generally things start to improve but obviously if you have any concerns as an expat it’s best to seek help from a qualified professional.

If you’re abroad to undertake an international assignment for your employer, in many instances firms provide an employee assistance programme (EAP) to support staff. Provided as a staff benefit, access to an EAP can be very useful for staff as these programmes offer the use of counselling services for people who are facing problems and challenges such as bereavement, divorce, addiction, and mental health issues among a range of other employee support services.

Remember, you’re not alone
Oftentimes, when things are difficult, it’s all too easy to assume that we’re the only one going through a tough patch. Sometimes it’s just enough to know that the challenges you face are in fact very common, and knowing you’re not in any way unusual can help give you confidence to share your concerns with friends and family or maybe seek counselling if you feel you need further assistance.