International student support organisation Morneau Shepell and LewerMark Student Insurance have announced a partnership to extend a targeted support program to nearly 20,000 international students.
Starting in the fall of 2018, Morneau Shepell’s International Student Support Program will be included as a feature of LewerMark’s insurance offering for international students, and will provide students with 24/7 access to support that will enhance their success.
“We know international students are more likely to experience stigma associated with mental health”
The ISSP platform, which integrates with existing campus resources, connects students to professionals and counsellors who speak their native languages and understand the cultural challenges faced by students living abroad.
Immediate support is available in six core languages, and ongoing support is provided in more than 60 languages via app, chat, web, telephone and video.
“We know international students are more likely to experience stigma associated with mental health and, as a result, are less likely to reach out for support,” said Matthew McEvoy, senior director at Morneau Shepell.
“With a significant number of students choosing to study outside of their home country, this offering is increasingly important for schools to extend to their students.
“By encouraging international students to seek support in times of need, together we can decrease the stigma and enhance the overall student experience.”
President and CEO of LewerMark, Mike Lewer, added that it was a “natural fit” for them to partner with Morneau Shepell to meet the needs of international and study abroad students.
“Our focus to protect international students with meaningful insurance coverage and high-quality service, combined with Morneau Shepell’s focus on preventative support to foster student wellbeing, makes this a perfect fit,” he said.
“We are pleased to provide this robust offering to our student population and continue to improve the lives of students studying at our partner institutions.”
Executive director at LewerMark ,Jeff Foot, told The PIE News that the ISSP provides a layer of care to our insurance plans that “is second to none”.
“Thinking back on my former career as an international student advisor… I encountered students who were having issues I was not prepared to handle… students presenting with issues too confounding for the vast majority of international offices and too culturally complex for most school-based or local mental health professionals,” he said.
“Having the ISSP in place would have been a literal lifesaver, so I am thrilled to begin implementing this with our existing and new partners for the 2018-2019 school year.”
Morneau Shepell was the winner of the Student Support Award at The PIEoneer Awards 2017 for its International Student Support Program in Canada. Nominations for PIEoneers 2018 are open here, we look forward to seeing you in September!
