Supporting International Student Wellbeing Through Community-Led Action

By Crystal Paniccia, Senior Program Manager, Embrace Multicultural Mental Health

Moving to a new country can be exciting, but it can also be overwhelming. For many international students, life in Australia involves balancing study, work, financial pressures, family expectations and the challenge of building a new support network far from home.

While conversations about suicide prevention often focus on responding to people in crisis, the experiences shared through the Student Changemakers: Peer Leadership Program remind us of the importance of connection, belonging and support long before someone reaches that point.

Delivered by Shapes and Sounds in partnership with Embrace Multicultural Mental Health, the project provided an opportunity to listen directly to international students and learn more about the factors that influence their wellbeing, help-seeking and experiences of support.

The Student Changemakers project was one of several community-led initiatives delivered through the Embrace Suicide Prevention Pilot. These initiatives were designed to work alongside multicultural communities, recognising that communities themselves are best placed to identify their strengths, challenges and priorities. By partnering with trusted community organisations and centering lived experience, the projects sought to build a deeper understanding of how suicide prevention efforts can be made more culturally responsive and meaningful.

International students make a significant contribution to Australia’s communities, campuses and workplaces. They bring diverse perspectives, skills and experiences that enrich our society. However, many also face unique challenges, including loneliness, homesickness, visa uncertainty, financial pressures and the loss of familiar support systems. For some, cultural stigma surrounding mental health can make reaching out for help even more difficult.

To better understand these experiences, Shapes and Sounds brought together 23 international students from 12 cultural backgrounds in a culturally responsive peer leadership program. Through workshops, focus groups and co-designed digital resources, participants shared their experiences, reflected on community needs and helped identify approaches to mental health and suicide prevention that resonated with their communities.

One of the strongest messages to emerge from the project was that mental health and suicide prevention cannot be separated from the realities of everyday life.

Many participants spoke about the cumulative impact of financial stress, juggling study and employment, and being far from family and established support networks. For some, these pressures left little time or capacity to focus on their own wellbeing until they were already struggling.

Importantly, the project demonstrated the value of strength-based, culturally responsive approaches. Rather than focusing solely on mental health challenges or risk, the program recognised participants as leaders, contributors, and experts in their own experiences. This created space for honest conversations, shared learning and meaningful connections between students facing similar challenges.

Participants reported increased confidence in supporting peers, identifying signs of distress, seeking help, navigating difficult conversations and finding appropriate services. Just as importantly, the program fostered a stronger sense of connection and belonging.

The findings reinforce an important lesson: culturally responsive mental health support is about more than translating information or adapting existing services. It requires listening to communities, understanding their lived experience and recognising the cultural strengths that support wellbeing.

The project highlights the power of community-led solutions. When communities are trusted to shape conversations and identify what works for them, we create opportunities for support that feels relevant, accessible and safe.

Ultimately, suicide prevention is much more than responding to crisis, by creating communities where people feel seen, valued and connected, we can help to prevent distress from escalating. The Student Changemakers project demonstrates how community-led approaches can strengthen belonging, build resilience and support wellbeing long before someone reaches a point of crisis.

Supports and services for international students

If you are an international student, a range of services are available to help with study, accommodation, finances, legal information, and settling into life in Australia. These include:

Study Australia – Information on living and studying in Australia, including health and wellbeing, legal rights, accommodation, and student support services.

Your education provider’s international student support team – Support with adjusting to life in Australia, study-related concerns, accommodation, social connections, and accessing other services.

Mental health and wellbeing support

If you are seeking support for your mental health and wellbeing, help is available. You do not need to be in crisis to reach out. Many free or low-cost support options are available to international students in Australia, including support through GPs, counselling services, and mental health helplines.

You can speak with a GP about your mental health and wellbeing and the support options available to you, or contact one of the services below:

headspace – Mental health and wellbeing support for young people aged 12 to 25.

• By phone: Call 1800 650 890 to speak with a clinician one-on-one.

• Online (eheadspace): Create a free account through the Headspace website to access private webchat and email support.

• In person: Visit a local Headspace centre for face-to-face support. Locations are available via the Headspace website.

Medicare Mental Health Centres – A welcoming place where everyone can access free mental health information, services and supports. You don’t need a referral or appointment to access these services. The centres offer support for people in distress, including their family and carers.

• In person: Visit a local centre for face-to-face support. Locations are available via the Medicare Mental Health Centres website

• Phone support: call 1800 595 212 (8:30am – 5:00pm weekdays) for information about your local centre and to find out more about wellbeing supports in your local area.

Embrace Multicultural Mental Health – For information on services and supports available in your state or territory, and translated fact sheets on mental health and wellbeing.

If English is not your preferred language, you can contact the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) on 131 450 and ask for an interpreter to assist you in contacting a support service.

If you need immediate support, contact:

Lifeline – call 13 11 14 or text 0477 13 11 14 (24 hours a day)

Beyond Blue – call 1300 22 4636 (24 hours a day)

In an emergency, call 000.