Workshop Hosted by Baylor Center for Global Engagement Addresses Travel Abroad Education and Trends in College Mental Health

Media Contact: Terry Goodrich, Baylor University Media and Public Relations, 254-710-3321
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WACO, Texas (Dec. 16, 2019) — A workshop focused on mental health and international education was hosted recently by Baylor University’s Center for Global Engagement in collaboration with the Forum for Education Abroad.

The event was attended by nearly 30 staff members from more than a dozen institutions, among them the University of Dallas, Southern Methodist University, Texas Tech University, Oklahoma State University, University of Texas at Austin and the Alamo College system.

The workshop’s goal was to assist participants in developing experience in handling mental health issues that may arise with students on an education abroad experience. The workshop reviewed trends in college mental health with focus on high-risk behaviors, identifying certain mental health reactions to stress and discussing and exploring philosophical, legal and practical concerns, said Bo M. White, director of the Study Abroad program of the Center for Global Engagement.

Facilitators discussed models for pre-departure screening, laying out appropriate roles to play when concerned about a student’s mental health distress and providing strategies for managing mental health concerns when they occur. That interactive workshop engaged participants in discussion of case studies and application of the Standards of Good Practice of the Forum for Education Abroad.

“Baylor University takes seriously the health and well-being of our students, and we want to continue to provide transformational learning experiences here and abroad that strive for excellence in every way,” White said. “This workshop brought together study abroad staff and counseling staff from many different universities to share best practices and to continuously improve services we are offering students.”

ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY

Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked research institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 17,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 90 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions.