(expatriate) finding mental health resources when you live abroad

7/28/2019 (Expatriate) Finding Mental Health Resources When You Live Abroad

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Finding M ental Health Resour ces

When You L ive Abroad

Finding resources and support for personal, couple, and family issues can

be a challenge in a foreign country. D ifferent cultural attitudes about

emotional health and counseling can make it difficult to find the help you

need. The following information can help you find resources and support

for personal, family, and couple issues when you are living abroad.

Assessing your needs before relocatingLooking at your needs and planning ahead before you relocate will help you

find the resources and support you may need while you are away from home.

Think about all the useful resour ces you use at home. Begin to make contact with

similar resources abroad. For example, if you have consulted with a child

psychologist at home about your teenager, find a professional with similar

training and experience in your host country. A specialist at home may be able

to refer you to someone in the area where you will be living.

Talk wi th your employer about fi nding resour ces abroad. Your employee assistance

program (EAP ) may be able to o ffer guidance, resources, and support. Be sure

to take the phone number of the EAP with you when you move.

Contact the consulates office or embassy to get i nformat ionabout local specialists and

therapists.

I f a fami ly member has a substance abuse problem or another ser ious problem, talk

wi th a specialist about the possible impact of moving abroad. Adjusting to life in a

new culture is challenging for most people. It can be especially challenging for

a person in recovery.

Read and become knowledgeable about the issues you are facing. For example, look

over the Web sites listed at the end of this article in the areas that concern you.

C heck your librarys listings for books that can provide background

information.

Talk with people you t rust about the issues you ar e facing and how to find suppor t.

Friends and teachers, your family doctor, and ot her people you trust can help

you assess what kind of help you need and what resources will be most helpful.

Take seriously the advice you get from people who know you and understand

your family well. For example, if your child has a hard time with transitions,

ask a trusted teacher for ideas on how to alleviate this stress and how to make

the adjustment to school in a foreign country easier.

Overview

How to find help for

personal, family, and

couple issues when living

abroad.

Assessing your needs

before relocating

Getting started finding

information and resources

When its hard to ask for

help

Finding mental health

resources

Finding substance abuse

resources

Additional resources


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2 l Finding Mental Health Resources When You Live Abroad

Getting started finding information and resourcesH ere are some suggestions on how t o get start ed finding resources once you

are abroad:

Consul t a local newspaper and use the Internet. You may find hot lines, support

groups, and other resources in the local paper or online. The national or local

government may have a centralized online resource.

Get to know people and r esour ces in your community. Join local expatriate groups

and clubs. Ask questions and be open about what you are looking for. W rite

down your q uestions in advance so you stay focused.

Use local and i nt ernat ional schools as a resour ce i f you have concerns about your chi ld.

Keep a resour ce notebook. Take notes when people give you information and

keep it organized in a notebook.

Ask trusted fr iends, neighbors, or co-workers fornames. They may also be able to

connect you with families who will have advice based on their own experiences.

The same name or a few names of professionals may come up again and again.

These may be the best choices for you.

Use onl ine resour ces if you dont fi nd what you need locally. A growing number of

therapy and counseling referrals are available online. See the list of online

resources at the end of this article. In add ition, associations of health providers

in some countries can help you identify sources of professional help.

When its hard to ask for helpAsking for help for mental health issues can be difficult under any

circumstances. When you are abroad, language and ot her cultural barriers can

make this more difficult. H ere are some tips to help you ask for the help you

need:

I f you ar e shy or unaccustomed to aski ng for help, be prepared to push your self a li tt le.

Before your move, plan ahead and identify the professionals that can help you

once you are abroad. Once you have arrived, use an interpreter to help you

clearly communicate your concerns. Bring your spouse, partner, o r a t rusted

friend along to a meeting with a specialist if this makes things easier for you.

Reali ze that you may have wor r ies about gett ing help. You may be concernedbecause the admission of a problem could jeopardize your job or the job of

your partner or spouse. You may choose to seek help privately without letting

your employer know that help is needed. On the other hand, assistance from

your employer, such as time off to be with a loved one, can alleviate stress and

give you access to resources you wouldnt otherwise have. Remember that

EAP services are confidential and that the EAP provides help with many issues,

including depression, relationship issues, and substance abuse.


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Be methodical and patient . You may be the main person in the family evaluating

the problem and seeking help. This will feel like a lot of responsibility. If you

are methodical and patient, you will find the help you need.

Take care of your self. D ealing with a personal or family problem is stressful,

especially when you are living in a new place. Join local expatriate groups and

clubs to make social connections. Make time for yourself. And most

importantly, understand that it will take time to adjust t o your new cultural

home.

Finding mental health resourcesThe best w ay to find help for a personal or family problem is to talk with

people you trust - a respected doctor, nurse, or trusted friend in your

community. This is the best way to find support for couple problems, family

problems, depression, stress, eating disorders, and other mental healthconcerns.

Talk t o your fami ly doctor or nur se. A doctor or nurse at t he local clinic or

hospital may be helpful. Your local hospitals social services department or the

chaplain may also be able to provide you with resources and support.

Ask questi ons that wi ll help you get the informat ion you need. Begin by explaining

the problem in general terms. Then ask, C ould you please tell me where I

might find help? Explain that you would like to work with someone who

speaks English. Also ask: H as this person worked with families in our

situation? You want to hear that the person to whom youre being referred

has experience and has had good results.

Be cer tai n to understand and ver i fy r efer r al and payment requirements before

beginning any cour se of t r eatment. Referral practices may vary from country to

country and you will want to understand the requirements for your particular

area. Also, be sure to check with any insurance provider you are working with

to understand how your plan works when you are living abroad.

Consul t wi th expatr iates in the communi ty. Talk to expatriates you may have met

through the local clubs or organizations for foreigners.

Be aware that cul tur al di fferences may make i t more dif fi cul t t o get help. For

example, in P akistan, a woman w ould not be permitted to be alone with a malepsychiatrist. Through your embassy or consulates office, you may be

permitted to contact the U .S. State D epartments regional psychiatrist. H e or

she may be able to g ive you a referral to a practitioner who speaks English.

Consider qual i fi cations when choosing a professional . You may be looking for help

from a psychiatrist, a psychologist, a family doctor , a social worker, a nurse

practitioner, a marriage or family therapist, or a minister with pastoral

counseling training. A qualified person has a degree and certification (a


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diploma) in his field. Ask the professional about degrees and training and how

much of his practice is devoted to your t ype of problem. The book Straight

Talk about Your M ental H ealthby James Morrison is a good resource for

guidance on finding a mental health professional.

Use resour ces back home to find a r efer ral. U .S.-based organizations may be able

to helpwith referrals abroad. The N ational Alliance for the M entally Ill

(NAMI) has relationships with similar associations in other countries through

its Multicultural and International Outreach C enter. Consult the N AMI Web

site at www.nami.org.

Finding substance abuse resourcesThe type and availability of substance abuse resources will vary accord ing t o

the country w here you are living. In the N etherlands, for example, you may

find an abundance of resources. H owever, in some Muslim countries resourcesmay be hard to find. Informat ion about symptoms and signs of substance abuse

and when to seek help can be found in books such as The Recovery Bookby Al J.

Mooney, Arlene Eisenberg, and H oward Eisenberg.

I f you are concerned that a family member may have a drug or alcohol problem, plan

ahead as much as possible before you move.

I f you ar e concerned that someone in your fami ly has a substanceabuse problem and i s

in immediate danger , consul t a professional r ight away. In an emergency, local

emergency services, your family doctor, your school, or the embassy or

consulates office can be sources of immediate help.

To find ongoing counseling and pr ofessional help, talk to a tr usted psychologist, social

worker , or your fami ly doctor. A social worker or member of the medical staff at

the local hospital may also be able to provide a referral.

Find out i f a counselor or therapist back home can help you f ind counseling or

professional help in your host country.

Use the NAM I Web site (www.nami .org) to fi nd links to resour ces.

Ask the psychologist on staff at your chi lds school to provi de a r eferral.

Consul t trusted neighbors and fr iends for refer rals.

Use the telephone dir ector y if your host ci ty or country has one. G et assistance in

reading and interpreting it if necessary. Substance abuse and o ther support

programs may be listed.

I f there is a local l ibrary near you, a librar ian may be very knowledgeable about

appropr iate local resour ces.

I f you are concerned about substance abuse and your chi ld, look for a professional who

specializes in chi ldren.


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To find resources and support , network, do your research, and talk with

people you trust. You will find the help and information you need.

Additional resources

Alcohol and substance abuse resources

Alcoholics Anonymous

www.alcoholi cs-anonymous.org(go to Services for Members, then C ontact

Local AA )

C onnect for Kids

www.connectforki ds.org(in the A-Z topic list, go to H ealth, then clickonSubstance Abuse)

H azelden Foundation

www.hazelden.org

KidsH ealth

www.kidshealth.org

Mental health resources

N ational Alliance for the M entally Ill

www.nami.org(click on Find Support, then Multicultural Support, or click

on en Espaol to find L atin American associations

P artnership for a D rug-Free America

www.drugfreeamerica.org

U psticks and G o

www.upsticksandgo.com

General online resources

Expat-Moms.com

www.expat-M oms.com

Expat E xpert

www.expatexper t.com

Federation of American Womens C lubs Overseas

www.fawco.org


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N ewcomers C lub Worldwide

www.newcomersclub.com

Outpost Expatriate Information C entre

www.outpostexpat.nl

Tales from a Small P lanet

www.talesmag.com

2003 Ceridian Corporation. All rights reserved.

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