MENTAL HEALTH & WELLBEING
Studying abroad: building confidence, connection and wellbeing in a generation growing up online
A
s the time young people spend online has increased, so too have concerns about their mental health and growing feelings of disconnection. Kate Erskine, Head of DGI Study Trips, explores how international study can provide valuable opportunities to build the relationships, resilience and confidence that support mental health and wellbeing.
In an age of constant connectivity, students are feeling more disconnected than ever. Technology has transformed education. Students can collaborate across borders, access knowledge instantly and develop digital skills that will be essential in the future workplace. However, alongside these opportunities, we are also seeing growing concerns around young people’s overall wellbeing. Increased screen time, social media pressures and a decline in face-to-face interactions have created new challenges for students who are growing up in an increasingly digital world. This raises an important question for education: have we become too focused on digital literacy at the expense of the social skills, resilience and cultural awareness that are developed through real-world experience? Digital literacy is undoubtedly important. Students need to be able to navigate technology, use information effectively and understand the opportunities and challenges of the online world. But education must also prioritise the skills that cannot be developed through a screen alone.
The Children’s Commissioner recently warned that we are facing a crisis in young people’s mental health, with referrals to mental health services surpassing one million for the first time.
The conversation around student wellbeing 30
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often focuses on support services and intervention, but education also has a role to play in creating environments where students can thrive. While there is no single solution, experiences that support personal development alongside academic achievement can help students engage more fully with university life and develop the resilience to navigate an increasingly complex world. Following a residential programme managed by DGI in Morocco, Nottingham College highlighted how the experience combined academic learning with cultural immersion. Beyond its educational value, it illustrated how international study experiences can foster student’s independence and build peer connections alongside academic learning. International study trips encourage students to move beyond their everyday routines and immerse themselves in new cultures and perspectives. At a time when many young people are experiencing increased isolation and pressure, shared experiences abroad provide opportunities to build meaningful relationships, develop friendships and create a stronger sense of belonging. Loneliness is not simply about being physically alone, it is also about feeling disconnected from others. For many students, particularly those whose social interactions increasingly take place online, opportunities for
September 2026
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