Mental Health Clearance for Study in Tufts Programs Abroad
Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the purpose of the Mental Health Clearance form?
   This form was developed to support treatment planning for students with mental health issues who wish to travel abroad. The goal of the form is to help students, treatment providers and families formulate a plan to support a students mental health needs while abroad. For some students, this may mean working with their clinician to anticipate any obstacles to a successful experience abroad. For other students it may mean choosing a particular study abroad program, speaking with a Tufts Program Abroad Resident Director about the students mental health strengths and challenges, or developing strategies for accessing medications while abroad. In addition, this form will help some students, therapists, and parents understand that traveling abroad may not be indicated for a student due to a students particular mental health needs.
    
2. How will students get their psychiatric medications while abroad?
   If a student is taking psychiatric medication, it is vital to determine a specific plan for obtaining medication during the study abroad period. Common psychiatric medications used in the United States are not necessarily available in many countries and this needs to be carefully researched ahead of time. Students will need to work with their medication prescriber and other resources to develop a specific plan as to how they will get refills, who will write them, and if ongoing monitoring is needed, who will perform that. See additional suggestions on the back of this form.
    
3. How will mental health providers share information about a student with the Tufts University Health and Wellness Service?
   A release of information allowing mental health providers to share mental health information with the Tufts Health Service, the Tufts Programs Abroad office, and Resident Director of the Tufts Program Abroad in the country in which you will be studying is included on the Mental Health Clearance for Study in Tufts Programs Abroad form. In order for information to be shared, students must sign the release.
    
4. What if a mental health provider checks off the third box indicating that a student should contact the Tufts Program Abroad Resident Director?
   If a mental health provider has checked this box s/he should have a conversation with the student about his or her concerns, the reasons why s/he has asked the student to contact the Resident Director, and about planning for the students mental health needs abroad.
    
5. What if a mental health provider checks off the fourth box indicating that s/he has concerns about a students ability to participate in a study abroad program?
   If a mental health provider has checked this box s/he should have a conversation with the student about his or her concerns. The mental health provider may also tell a student that it is not a good idea for the student to travel abroad at this time. S/he may also contact a students family or the Tufts Programs Abroad Director to share his or her recommendations and to talk about next steps or treatment planning.

For Questions about Programs Abroad please contact:
Sheila Bayne, Associate Dean Programs Abroad
617-627-2000

For Questions about Mental Health Clearance please contact:
Margaret Higham, Medical Director of Tufts University Health Service
617-627-3350

Suggestions for Managing Psychiatric Medications for Students Studying Abroad

• Local prescribers and most psychiatric medications are likely to be available in Europe, but that may not be true outside of Europe.
• If required medication is not clearly going to be available, prescribers should counsel students that the program they have in mind might not be appropriate for them.
• Students could be sent with as large a supply as the prescriber feels is appropriate.
• Prescribers might arrange phone appointments with the student to refill prescriptions during the time abroad.
• Refills may be able to be picked up by family members and taken to students if they go to visit.
• We do not recommend mailing refills abroad, as mail may be searched, interrupted, lost, etc.
• If the prescriber feels that the students medication will need to be monitored and prescribed by a local clinician at the study abroad program, the prescriber needs to make it clear to the student that s/he needs to contact the Resident Director of the study abroad program ahead of time to ascertain the availability of both a local prescriber and that specific medication.

Back to top.