Around the world, education systems are celebrated for producing strong results in tests and rankings. Yet behind the numbers, students often face stress, exhaustion, and declining mental health. This raises a critical question: is academic success worth it if it damages wellbeing?
What is emotional/mental health?
Emotional health is about feeling content and happy. Your time in another country will be affected by many things: how you cope with a different culture and language; how safe and welcome you feel; and how much fun you have. It’s important to be aware of factors that lead to poor emotional health. These include: depression (feelings of great sadness); anxiety (feelings of fear and worry); stress (feeling like you have too much to cope with); homesickness (missing home, family and friends); social isolation (spending too much time alone); and loneliness (having no friends).
What is stress?
Stress usually means you are feeling tense and anxious. This could include worrying about your studies, exams, work, family, relationships or homesickness. Most people get stressed from time to time, but too much stress can lead to physical and emotional health problems and might affect your studies.
How do I recognise depression and anxiety?
We all feel sad from time to time, but some of us have these feelings more often, more strongly or for a longer period of time. If you are feeling depressed, you might find it hard to cope each day. In some cases you will not want to see your friends, you might start missing classes, and you will not feel like participating in activities you normally enjoy. Some people also feel anxious and fearful. This could be due to concerns about exam results, money and work pressures and severe homesickness. If you feel any of these things, it is important to ask for help as soon as possible. Remember, depression is a serious illness, but it can be treated.
I am worried about my friend emotional wellbeing, how can I help them?
The best thing you can do is listen to their concerns and encourage them to seek help from a GP or other professionals.
Mental health issues are common, and it’s okay to talk about how you’re feeling. If you’re struggling, it might feel really hard to say it out loud – it’s the first step towards feeling better. You could start by telling a trusted friend or classmate, visiting your school’s wellbeing centre or reaching the school counsellor, just to talk things through can make you feel better.
Practical Tips for International Students to improve health & wellbeing:
💪Maintain Physical Health
Balanced diet: Have balanced diet with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and proteins to maintain energy levels and support your immune system.
Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water throughout the day to avoid fatigue and concentration problems.
Exercise Regularly: Physical activity can boost mood and energy. Even short walks can be beneficial.
Get Enough Sleep: Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep every night to improve cognitive function and overall mood.
❤️Nurture Mental & Emotional Health
Practice Mindfulness: Engage in mindfulness, meditation, or deep breathing exercises to manage stress.
Set Realistic Goals: Create achievable goals to give your life direction, boost optimism, and improve confidence.
Connect with Others: Build a strong social support system by participating co-curricular, attending events, and meeting new people to build connection with others.
Practice Self-Compassion: Be kind to yourself and acknowledge that adjusting to a new country is challenging and it's okay to have difficult days.
Take Breaks: Step away from your studies to relax and rest.
Educational success should not come at the cost of mental health. Schools, parents, and students must recognise that wellbeing and achievement go hand in hand. A balanced system: one that combines discipline with creativity, resilience with wellbeing; will create not only successful students, but healthy, motivated individuals ready for life beyond the classroom.
⬆️Click to explore more on motivation
My notes to Asian international students🩵:
Many of Asian students have experienced quite lot of stress and expectations on academic, please be reminded that finding your own values and your strengths is a really important skill for all of us. I am also growing up in a traditional Asian background, and I deeply understand the stress on you, studying abroad out of Asia will be a really good opportunity for you for self-exploration and noticing your own values. All individual has their own strengths and please note that achieving outstanding grades is not the only way out.
After I came to Australia, I've realised crying and feeling anxious is not a sign of weakness, Western countries encourage students to express their thoughts and feelings, and it is okay and normal to feel this way. Never forget your own values other than just achieving a good grade, there are lots and lots of other opportunities for you to shine and excel.
The hidden cost of Academic pressure (the following topic might cause distress, click to expand)
❤️🩹Survivors of suicide
Definition: A survivor of suicide is a family member or friend of a person who died by suicide. Survivors of suicide represent the largest mental health casualties related to suicide. It is estimated that for every suicide there are at least six survivors.
According to the Legislative Council Secretariat of Hong Kong: the number of deaths of students due to suicides almost tripled in 10 years to at least a decade high of 32 cases in 2023, outpacing the 6% growth in overall fatal suicides in the entire population over the same period.
Suicide due to academic stress affects both Western and Asian countries, but is particularly prominent in Asia due to intense academic pressure and societal expectations. Rates vary widely; studies reveal significant trends in both regions.
Asia
In India, around 13,000 students die by suicide every year, accounting for 7.6% of all suicide deaths in the country. Over 12% of Indian college students had contemplated suicide in the past year, often citing academic pressure as a key factor.
In China, suicide is among the top five causes of death for adolescents, with academic pressure cited as a major contributor, especially during exam periods and result announcements.
Rates of suicide attempts among Asian international students in Western universities range from 1.2% to 7.5% over a year, with suicidal ideation rates ranging from 5.4–28.6%.
In South Korea, up to 12.9% of all suicides are attributed to exam failure. Suicide risk is particularly high during school transitions, exam periods, or after academic results are released.
Studies of Western university students show that while academic stress is among the risk factors, suicide rates attributed solely to academic pressure are somewhat lower than in Asia, but still significant. Suicide attempts in Western university populations are comparable to international students, ranging from 1.2% to 2.2% per year.
Academic stress is commonly mentioned as a trigger in systematic reviews involving Australian and US students, but societal dynamics and family expectations are often less intense than in many Asian countries.
Academic success is often celebrated, but it can come at a devastating cost when wellbeing is ignored. In many Asian education systems, where academic results are viewed as a measure of family honour and personal worth, the pressure to perform can become overwhelming.
This is not just a theory; it is something I have lived through. Growing up in Hong Kong, I lost several friends to suicide caused by extreme academic pressure. These tragedies have shaped the way I view education: success means little if it destroys a student’s mental health. This experience is what drives my research and the purpose of this website, to highlight the importance of balancing achievement with wellbeing.
Asian systems (Hong Kong, China, South Korea, Japan)
Strengths: discipline, resilience, strong memory skills, academic excellence.
Weaknesses: heavy exam culture, long study hours, lack of sleep, stigma around mental health → leading to higher rates of stress, anxiety, and in severe cases, suicide.
Cultural values: collectivism, obedience, and respect for authority can make students feel failure is unacceptable.
Western systems (Australia, UK, US)
Strengths: more balance between academic achievement and wellbeing; encouragement of student voice, independence, and creativity.
Weaknesses: freedom requires self-discipline, which can overwhelm some students. Stress still exists but tends to be expressed differently (e.g. through deadlines and independence, rather than exams).
This comparison shows a paradox: Asian systems excel in international rankings like PISA for academics, but score far lower on wellbeing. Western systems may not always achieve the same academic dominance, but they place stronger emphasis on the whole student.
Acknowledge grief: Losing someone is painful. It is okay to feel sadness, guilt, or even anger.
Break the silence: Talk about your friend in safe ways. Bottling it up makes healing harder.
Support each other: Peer groups can be safe spaces. Don’t underestimate the power of shared experiences.
Transform pain into purpose: Many survivors find strength in creating awareness or helping others in honour of their friend.
Look beyond grades: Survivors may struggle with concentration, attendance, or emotional regulation. Compassion is key.
Create safe spaces: Acknowledge feelings without judgement. Survivors often just want to feel heard.
Encourage professional help: Guide students to counsellors, psychologists, or school wellbeing teams.
Balance wellbeing and learning: Survivors should not feel forced to “bounce back” quickly. Slow, supported reintegration matters.
In Asian systems, stigma around mental health often prevents survivors from speaking up. Silence and shame can worsen their suffering.
In Western systems, conversations about mental health are more open, but survivors may still feel misunderstood or pressured to “move on.”
This cultural difference reinforces why teachers and peers must actively support survivors and encourage open dialogue.
There are some sources to support you in grief:
Please click the link below: ⬇️
Click this link--> connect with grief and loss support services that can help you and the people you care about
This service is for people in Australia, if you are out of Australia, please use the following international service⬇️:
If you are in crises, please call emergency or lifeline number for support:
Click this to find out the emergency or lifeline number in different countries⬇️
