⚠️ Content Warning: This episode includes discussions of mental health struggles, isolation, and burnout. Please listen with care.
What does it really look like to be an international student in Melbourne? Beyond the curated social media posts and "day in the life" videos, what are the hidden struggles that students face every day?
In this episode of the Asian Mental Health Podcast, Asami sits down with Rachel Tan Mun En and Cheng Qien Vrede, two Malaysian international students and Student Changemakers participants, for an honest conversation about loneliness, financial pressure, broken trust, and the realities of building a life from scratch in Australia.
Rachel, a double degree student in education and music working three jobs, and Vrede, a final-year psychology student, share their raw experiences of what it's really like to navigate university life as an international student - from the small daily struggles that build up over time, to the moments of breaking down, to finding unexpected sources of strength like religion, community, and vulnerability.
🎧 You'll hear about:
✅ The gap between social media expectations and the reality of international student life in Melbourne
✅ Why international students often don't feel they have "permission to struggle"
✅ The hidden financial and emotional costs of studying abroad for Malaysian students
✅ How online university courses make it harder to build consistent friendships and community
✅ The experience of loneliness even when surrounded by people on campus
✅ Why religion and faith communities matter for international student wellbeing (and why mental health services need to talk about this)
✅ Practical strategies for supporting struggling peers and building trust
✅ The importance of vulnerability and consistency in creating meaningful connections
💡 Episode Highlights:
The reality check: life as an international student is 1% "cupcakes and rainbows" and 99% learning to cook, clean, manage money, and take care of yourself alone
How loneliness "creeps up on you very quietly" when you can't find people who click with you
The cycle of no rest: working three jobs while doing a double degree and barely touching your violin for three months
Why showing weakness feels dangerous in Asian communities - and how that stops students from seeking help
The role of Christian faith and prayer in Rachel's mental health journey (and why mental health services in Australia need to engage with religion more openly)
How to know when a peer needs help - and why asking "are you okay?" once isn't enough
The impact of online learning on student mental health: "You made friends in high school because you saw them every day. In uni, it's just fleeting moments"
Why "not wanting to burden people" actually robs them of the opportunity to care for you
🛠️ Resources Mentioned:
- Free mental health guide for international students HERE
- All other resources are linked in the full show notes HERE
🙌 Connect with Shapes and Sounds
✨ If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe, rate, and review the Asian Mental Health Podcast on your favourite podcast app - it really helps other international students find these conversations. Share this episode with your friends, especially if you know or are an international student. Word of mouth helps destigmatise mental health in Asian communities. 💛
💡Do you work with international students? If so, you may be interested in learning more about the Student Changemakers program as well as downloading our project summary report HERE.
This season is brought to you by Embrace Multicultural Mental Health (The Embrace Project). All thoughts and ideas you hear are independently ours and our guests.The Embrace Project is part of Mental Health Australia. For more information about the Embrace Project, visit: https://embracementalhealth.org.au/
