In order to thoroughly implement the relevant requirements of the Ministry of Education on strengthening the mental health education of international students in China, actively build a mental health service system for international students, effectively pay attention to the mental health of international students on campus, and help them improve their psychological adjustment ability, on the afternoon of April 23, more than 120 international students from more than 30 countries gathered in the lecture hall of the new library to participate in the "Towards Sunshine, Building Dreams and Pioneering" mental health education activity organized by the International Students’ Education Center (ISEC). Peng Xuefei, Deputy Director of ISEC, attended and delivered a speech. This event received strong support from the Student Psychological Development Service Center (hereinafter referred to as the Psychological Center) of the Party Committee Student Affairs Department of the School.
This event was carried out in an innovative form of scientific assessment and thematic lecture, building a "protective barrier" for the mental health of international students from different cultural backgrounds. In the psychological assessment process, the professional team of the Psychological Center provided professional assessment guidance and standardized mental health assessments for the international students. The assessment adopts the internationally recognized SCL-90 Symptom Checklist and Cross Cultural Adaptation Questionnaire, covering six dimensions including emotional management, stress coping, and social support. Data collection was conducted through a bilingual electronic platform in Chinese and English. The assessment results will adhere to the principle of strict confidentiality. For student groups that require special attention, certified psychological counselors will provide follow-up counseling.
In the special lecture session, the International Students’ Education Center specially invited Dr. Merle Parmak, a psychology expert with dual doctoral degrees from the University of Leuven and Royal Military Academy, and a foreign teacher from the School of Public Administration and Humanities of Dalian Maritime University, to provide a lecture with the topic "To be well - what does that mean?". Through scenario simulation, stress map analysis, and other methods, she systematically decomposed psychological stress identification and coping strategies, harm of the stress, and how to scientifically help others. Dr. Merle Parmak successfully created a free and open environment for students to express themselves freely through professional and vivid explanations, as well as active on-site interactions. International students not only quickly relaxed, but also had active discussions with the teacher, gaining rich knowledge and professional guidance. NYAMATAMA SALIM ALLY, a master's student from Tanzania, said, "This event is very helpful in helping us alleviate various pressures.
The International Students’ Education Center always adheres to the educational philosophy of "people-oriented, and holistic education", focusing on improving the quality of education while building a solid psychological health defense line for students. The successful hosting of this event has injected professional strength into enhancing the mental health accomplishment of international students and the psychological counseling ability towards international students. In the future, the center will continue to promote innovative and characteristic projects such as multilingual psychological counseling services and cross-cultural adaptation workshops, continuously optimize the psychological service system, further improve the timeliness and accuracy of psychological work, and build a strong spiritual defense line for the international student education work, safeguarding the safe campus of DMU.
