Coping with a Crisis

Contact Home

Maintaining friendships and connection with family in your home country is very important. Sometimes internet, phone, or mail connections in your home country may be interrupted during crises. Resources for contacting your home country during a crisis may differ depending on the type of crisis. Some possible resources for making contact may include:

• US embassies abroad
• Foreign embassies in the US
• Aid organizations such as the American Red Cross may respond to natural disasters in other countries, and may have information about the current situation.

Media coverage

Media coverage may help you feel informed, but it may also cause confusion, helplessness, and anxiety. 

If you are feeling stressed, try to limit the amount of news you consume each day.

If you do watch and read the news, try to verify that your sources are trustworthy and reliable.

Support Systems

When you are feeling lonely, reach out to your support system.

Close family members, trusted friends, mentors, professors, classmates, and coworkers may all be available and willing to help.

Other Coping Strategies

Coping with a crisis in your home country can be very difficult. It is important to know that different coping strategies work for different people, and the best resource you have is to talk with someone at OSU. If you haven’t already, check out our Resources sections. Other coping strategies may include:

• Regular exercise
• Meditation or Yoga
• Seeking emotional support from friends, other students, or professionals
• Participating in campus led events such as candlelight vigils, presentations, or gatherings
• Finding opportunities to give informational presentations about your country or culture
• Participating in group therapy sessions
• Contributing to relief or support efforts
• Focusing on future goals or personal growth
• Find other ideas in the Resilience Toolbox and DIY Mental Health Workshop