Scaffolded ambiguity.

International travel transcends classroom learning: the learning we do about ourselves and the world is profound and unique. It is the disruption of what is known – often across uncomfortable changes, challenges, and uncertainties – that transforms who we are and how we live. Though for decades mental health symptoms, diagnoses, and treatment have been stigmatized and avoided, their visibility has dramatically increased in recent years, perhaps most prominently in students and young people. While schools, universities, and programs are prioritizing students’ mental health and wellbeing by amplifying awareness and incorporating myriad supports, global learning experiences – a model built upon the stress of change, uncertainty, and unknown – often provide limited, if any, mental health support. 

Many young people have a mental health diagnosis, are prescribed psychiatric medication, utilize mental health therapy, or suffer with undiagnosed and untreated mental health symptoms like anxiety and depression.

Just like our physical health, wellbeing requires we talk about mental health. A lot. Openly and non-judgmentally. We provide resources to teach students about how their mental health (regardless of diagnosis) may be affected during travel and how to manage it. Our Wellness Travel Plan guides pre-departure mental health planning, during-travel mental health maintenance strategies and tools, as-needed crisis management, and reintegration supports.