Supporting Expatriates’ Mental Health and Wellbeing

Since the onset of Covid, the focus on mental health and wellbeing in the workplace has grown. It is now more important than ever for employers to create mentally healthy workplaces where people feel supported and comfortable discussing mental health.

Mentally healthy workplaces positively impact workplace culture, help manage stress and raise awareness that mental health is everyone’s personal responsibility. Everyone experiences stress, but major life stressors—such as the death of a loved one, divorce, moving, major illness or injury, and job loss—can be overwhelming. With moving being one of these key stressors, supporting expatriates’ mental health during relocations is crucial for a successful relocation experience for both the employee and the company.

Relocating is a stressful process with many moving parts. HR can help by recognising the individual’s needs, both practically and psychologically, and supporting them in embracing the unknown. One of the 5 Human Truths is that we all crave more control over our lives. HR can support expatriates’ mental health and meet this need for control in the following ways:

• Provide information and set realistic expectations: Share details about the destination country, its culture, lifestyle, and work ethic to prepare the employee for the assignment.
• Build social networks: Arrange introductions to colleagues before departure, encourage social media connections, and organise social activities upon arrival.
• Offer cultural training: Help expatriates adapt to a new culture, potentially offering coaching, counselling, or therapy to manage the emotional challenges of culture shock.

Cultural training also brings business benefits: It increases productivity, reduces acclimatisation time, enhances team effectiveness, and promotes cultural diversity within the company. Culture shock, which can impact personal and professional life, is a common challenge for expatriates. Feelings of isolation can be particularly difficult as they adjust to a new social and work environment.

HR plays a crucial role in supporting expatriates throughout every stage of the relocation journey, from pre-arrival to settling in. Recognising the unique needs of each individual and their family members is key. Relocations should not be “cookie-cutter” processes, but tailored ones that prioritise mental health and wellbeing.