You decided to travel to Australia, you applied for a visa, you got it. You are already in Australia and suddenly things are not going as you imagined. Maybe your plan is to only stay in the country for a few months, maybe your plan is long-term, intending to apply for another type of visa with the hope of obtaining a residence. Regardless of your case, there is a great psychological impact when arriving in another country and our mental health can be severely affected.
A large portion of Australia's national income is made from international students (approximately 40 billion a year before the pandemic), yet general health services, including mental health, are not properly tailored for this population. Students often do not feel comfortable or welcomed by these support services and are therefore often underutilized.
While that gap is being addressed, for those of us who have migrated, mental health issues are very real. Feelings of frustration, isolation, depression and anxiety are often quite common. People with student, working holiday and even tourist visas are the most vulnerable.
Let's review each case depending on the type of visa.
Tourist visa
In this visa case, you do not require mandatory health insurance. However, the Australian government strongly recommends hiring one, as medical expenses in this country are expensive.
If you have a previously diagnosed psychological condition or disorder, it is advisable to contact your treating psychologist and/or psychiatrist in your country of origin to inform them about your plans, you may need an emergency online therapy session. If you take psychiatric medication, don't forget to fill your prescription before traveling.
In case you do not have a professional in your country of origin and you are experiencing emotional difficulties or crises, you can request an appointment with a GP who has training in mental health (you can ask when making the appointment if it is not clear to you) and cover the cost of their services, or call the Beyondblue toll free support line or to chat with a counsellor www.beyondblue.org.au
Visa Work and Holiday 462 or Working holiday 417
If you have this type of visa, your country may be on the list of the 11 countries with which Australia has "reciprocal health care agreements". If this is the case, then depending on the country, you are entitled to different levels of subsidy in case you need psychological care.
No Latin American country is on this list.
Insurance is not required for this type of visa, but again, it is highly recommended. General medical insurance does not usually cover expenses that have to do with mental health, so be sure to include them as extras.
Student visa
It is one of the most popular visas as it allows students to legally work in the country. The hours you can work will depend on the type of student you are. In most cases, these are students of some type of course, which corresponds, as of July 1, 2023, to 48 hours of fortnightly work.
Being a student, you require private insurance to access the country. Likewise, in this case, most insurances do not cover mental health, so you need to mention this point to your insurance agency.
As a student in Australia, universities, English schools (most of them) and TAFES have counselling services and in some cases psychology. To meet them and book a space, go to school services where they will advise you on hours and formats.
Another viable option can be your workspace. Ask your supervisor or manager if your workplace offers EAPs (employee assistance programs) that are confidential and free.
Some community centres offer support groups for different symptoms like anxiety, depression, anger. Talking with other people who are feeling something similar and sharing your experience can be a very liberating experience. Talking with your peers can also be very beneficial.
If you require translation services, you will need to contact a social or community worker to request the support of a translator. Foundations, civil and non-profit associations usually have these services.
If you need urgent help, you can consult the directory of emergency services included in the article "Guide to schedule your first psychological consultation in Australia".
Your mental health is very important, so don't minimize it. There are help options. If you feel overwhelmed by the process, do not hesitate to contact me.