Students traveling abroad should keep in mind that attitudes toward psychological conditions vary by culture and can affect the availability of mental health treatment abroad. We encourage you to give serious consideration to your personal circumstances when accepting a place in a program.
Insurance & Mental Health
Prior to departure you will want to check with your insurance provider to confirm whether mental health coverage is included in your policy while traveling overseas. If you are seeing a therapist or counselor at home, you should speak with them about the feasibility of your plans for travel and any continued treatment while away. Because long-distance sessions (via phone or Skype) typically are not adequate for mental health treatment, your provider may encourage you to postpone travel or seek out a local mental health professional abroad. The on-site program staff may be able to provide recommendations for local, English-speaking mental health professionals, though please keep in mind that the breadth of resources available will not be what it is at home.
Even with insurance, as with any health services abroad, it is customary to make immediate upfront payments for mental health services out-of-pocket and submit the receipts for reimbursement to your insurer when you return home. Please keep in mind that upfront payments can be costly and should be taken into consideration when making plans to travel abroad.