Living abroad: The mental health impact of expat life

Living abroad, whether for a short-term adventure or as a permanent move, can be an incredibly eye-opening experience, offering significant opportunities for personal growth and discovery.

In 2021, nearly 16% of the UK’s population was non-native, while this figure rises dramatically in London, where around 40% of residents were born abroad.

Having experienced it myself, I can confirm that life as an expat comes with a unique set of opportunities - but also some peculiar challenges. Moving abroad can bring all the excitement of exploring a new country, meeting new people, embracing fresh experiences and often accessing career opportunities that may not be available at home.

Starting fresh can also allow us to experiment with other sides of our personality and break free of the expectations and perceived images of old friends and family. This can give us a sense of freedom that is sometimes difficult to experience back home.  

Nonetheless, life as an expat isn’t always a bed of roses - and it can come at a high price. 

Loneliness, isolation and guilt

Building new friendships takes time, both in quantity and quality. Expats can often experience feelings of loneliness, isolation, and disconnection, especially at the beginning of their life abroad. It’s not always easy to form meaningful social bonds that can become a support network when needed. Many of us are not accustomed to - or equipped - to manage this initial isolation. 

The distance from family and friends can be hard to bear, often accompanied by the guilt of having chosen to live abroad. Even after several years of living in another country, our sense of belonging and feeling “home” can be torn in two. 

The question of whether to keep living abroad or go back home will recurrently pop up in your mind, bringing the uncomfortable feeling that the answer will be difficult to formulate. Furthermore, it’s likely that neither of the two choices will truly satisfy you or fully resonate with you. 

Work, culture, and communication

Regarding work, working in another language and in another culture can lead to important cultural clashes.  

An interesting report by AXA, conducted across 16 countries, focused on the mental health challenges faced by non-natives. The study revealed a decline in mental health among non-natives compared to the previous year, with one in three reporting a mental health condition - a rate comparable to that of natives. However, non-natives experience higher levels of work-related mental health issues. In fact, 80% reported negative mental health impacts due to their work environment, and nearly half of them experienced burnout.

Adapting to a new workplace presents its own set of difficulties. Working in a different language and cultural context may lead to misunderstandings that can potentially affect both mental health and work productivity. 

There are several factors influencing the workplace that significantly vary across countries. Our communication style, for instance, is partially shaped by the culture we grew up in. For example, some cultures tend to favour a direct approach, while others rely on more indirect communication, where messages need to be interpreted between the lines. Similarly, the expression of emotions, the delivery of feedback, and perceptions of hierarchy and time can vary significantly across countries (The Culture Map, Erin Meyer, 2014).

In general, we are all unconsciously influenced and biased by the culture in which we were raised. When these cultural influences go unrecognised, the risk of miscommunication is high. Unfortunately, many professionals working in multicultural environments lack the necessary support to navigate these differences, making adaptation more challenging.

AXA’s report further revealed that more than half of non-natives feel their mental health needs are not adequately addressed, with only two in five receiving professional support.

Culturally sensitive psychotherapy and counselling can be useful resources for expats, providing tailored and sensitive support to help them navigate these challenges while living abroad.