CSIET is pleased to announce the release of our newest publication, Model Practices for Supporting the Mental Wellness of International Students.
This publication is a direct outcome of the strong interest and positive feedback generated during the 1st CSIET International Symposium in Madrid, Spain, as well as the thoughtful engagement and dialogue that continued in related sessions at the 2025 CSIET Annual Conference in Chicago. Together, these conversations reinforced the importance of equipping our international student exchange organizations with practical, student-centered approaches to mental wellness.
What’s inside the publication:
- An overview of key mental wellness considerations unique to international students
- Model practices organizations can implement to create supportive, responsive environments
- Guidance on prevention, early identification, and referral strategies
Building on this work CSIET now offers two new online training modules focused on these model practices and a set of tools for reflective listening. These modules offer actionable tools, scenarios, and professional learn to support implementation.
A special thank you as well to our psychology experts, Dr. Fraser Smith and Dr. Laura Thompson, whose expertise and guidance were instrumental in the development of this resource. We extend our sincere thanks to all of the contributors below for their insight, experience, and commitment to this important work.
- Ellen Hoggard, Chair, High School in the USA
- Maria Kovacs, InterStudy, Slovakia
- Stephanie Awalt, Foreign Links Around the Globe (FLAG)
- Tammy Becker, International Cultural Exchange Services (ICES)
- Herman Wiedemann, YFU International
- Ellie Bucciarelli, Greenheart Exchange
- Kathryn Brody, U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
- Christopher Page, CSIET
We are grateful to our members for your continued engagement and leadership in supporting the mental well-being of international students, and we look forward to continuing this important conversation together.