Our model is different. We focus on building accessible, proactive ways to protect participants, staff, communities, and institutions and optimize academic and interpersonal growth, not just avoid or address crisis. And within crisis, we emphasize the way all members of a community can support one another for best outcomes.
The Being Well Abroad model for mental health across global experiences is a synthesis of many evidenced-based approaches that promote psychological resiliency and individual- and group- mental health and wellness. A few of the evidenced based models we draw from include:
CIC: Community Initiated Care (Ben Miller)
ACT: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (Steve Hayes, Russ Harris)
RFT: Relational Frame Theory
PBIS: Positive Behavioral Intervention Support
TIG: Trauma, Illness, and Grief
TIC: Trauma Informed Care
MH First Aid
CISM: Critical Incident Stress Management
The Pyramid Of Support©
The Pyramid of Support helps providers/leaders think through the various layers and levels of intervention.
Our tiered model offers evidence-based, strategic ways you can invest in the mental health of your participants who are traveling abroad. All students are on the continuum of mental wellness and our model offers an effective way to reach each of them.
The foundational tier is a universal, proactive intervention for all students. Though many (even most) students may have a mental health diagnosis, endorse mental health symptoms, or take psychiatric medicines, Tier One applies to individuals as they are regulated and/or at baseline (meaning no acute mental health symptoms or reported or obvious activation of stress). Remember: stress can worsen mental health symptoms that are latently present thus making pre-departure interventions imperative for all students.
The middle, or Tier Two, of the pyramid encompasses the practices and systemic supports that a program can offer to students with an indicated, apparent mental health need (acute, impairing symptoms either reported or evident). When identified prior to travel, the student may proactively plan to go abroad with some additional information and preparedness as to how they will manage their mental health under the stress of international travel.
The top, or Tier Three, of the pyramid is for students with a significant mental health need or in a crisis. All proactive measures in Tiers One and Two are suggested to have occurred. A student “levels up” to Tier Three if there is an indicated deterioration of their mental health during travel as reported by them or observed by a student, staff, or another person.
Our consultations and trainings will take you through this model in greater detail so that you can fulfill your duty of care with confidence.