Mental Health
Living and studying abroad is stressful, and culture shock, isolation and homesickness are only some of the things that can negatively affect your well-being. It is important to take care of your own mental health, and seek connection with others.
You can feel bad in many different ways
The reasons why we experience mental health issues differ. Some elements can be hereditary, but most are due to factors such as stress, financial worries or grief. Being abroad, international students are isolated from their usual support communities, making them more vulnerable to negative effects on mental health. It is therefore important as an international student to seek communities, whether in your course or programme, in your corridor or housing area, or in common interest groups for e.g. singing, exercising or hobbies.
Common signs of deteriorating mental health include:
- Feelings of dejection, worry or loneliness
- Anxiety or depression
- Sleep or eating disorders
- Heavy consumption, dependency or hazardous use involving alcohol, narcotics or gambling
- Psychosis and delusions
- Suicidal thoughts
If you or someone in your surroundings experience any of the above – do not wait. Ask for help as soon as you can. Below you will find good contact channels where you can get help.
Support Services
Please contact any of the above if you are not feeling well.
If you experience acute suicidal thoughts and fear for your health and safety, always call 112.
The Suicide Prevention Hotline is for those who have thoughts about taking their own lives or have someone close to them who has such thoughts. You can reach the hotline via telephone (call 90101) 24/7, or chat or email every day. You can remain anonymous. At Mind.se, you can also find information on mental health issues.
At your local healthcare centre ("vårdcentral") you can get professional help for all kinds of mental health issues.
The Swedish Health Service 1177 also has information regarding low mood, stress, depression, anxiety or experiencing PTSD. You can call 1177 on their number +46 771 1177 00 for advice on mental health issues.
Student Health Centre is Lund University's own department working with student mental health. On their website you can book a time with a counsellor and read their self-help brochures.
The student chaplains (in Swedish) offer confidential conversations with students at Lund University, regardless of faith or philosophy of life. Some of them also educate others in Mental Health First Aid.
Fountain House Lund is a supportive community for people with varieties of mental health issues. They are aware that Lund has a large number of students suffering from isolation, strained economy, unfinished education and low self-esteem. “A Way Forward” is directed to university students that have, or are at risk of developing mental health issues.
Contact details
Address:
Professorsgatan 1B, Lund
Telephone hours
Telephone number: +46 46 222 08 00
Phone hours:
Monday-Friday
10:00 - 12:00 (AM, CET/CEST)
luacc [at] service [dot] lu [dot] se (luacc[at]service[dot]lu[dot]se)
Disturbances
For disturbances outside of office hours, please call LU Security 046-222 08 00, and press 1.