Exchange Students encouraged to 'Disconnect to Reconnect' for World Mental Health Day

[Boston, October 2, 2024] – Educatius, a global leader in international high school exchange programs, is launching its Disconnect to Reconnect initiative on October 10 to mark World Mental Health Day. The initiative invites exchange students, host families, and staff to reduce screen time for one week, focusing on real-life connections and reflecting on how this shift improves their well-being.

The initiative is based on findings from Educatius’ Global Youth Resilience Index, which surveyed over 4,000 teens across nine countries, including the USA. The research revealed that excessive social media use—especially at night—is tied to lower resilience levels. Females, on average, spent 2.1 hours more per week on social media than males, and they also scored lower on resilience. Overall, 42% of respondents reported spending 16 or more hours per week on social media. Spending 2 hours per day on social media effectively cuts almost one month from a yearlong exchange program.

“For us, World Mental Health Day is the perfect moment to start a conversation about mobile phone use and how it affects teens' well-being,” said Carla Kearns, Vice President of Communications at Educatius. “We see this daily with the 8,000 international students in our global programs, and this challenge is a great way to help them reclaim their time, reduce stress, and build stronger, real-world connections.”

In the USA Educatius enrolls qualified international students from over 60 countries on F-1 visas to study at local high schools in states like Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Michigan, Washington State, and Utah. These students not only enrich the school communities culturally but also provide financial support to the high schools they attend and to the host families where they live.

Through the Disconnect to Reconnect initiative, Educatius challenges students, host families, and staff to be more present during the exchange year, focusing on personal relationships, exploring local communities, and reflecting on how reducing screen time can enhance resilience.

By cutting down on screen time, participants can foster meaningful relationships and develop the resilience and coping skills they’ll need long after their exchange program ends. “If we can encourage just a few students to make the most of their exchange by being more present, that’s a success,” added Kearns. “These are the skills they’ll rely on in life beyond their exchange—handling stress, adapting, and building meaningful connections.”

Educatius fosters student well-being through initiatives like Disconnect to Reconnect, ensuring international students get the most out of their high school exchange experience in the USA or around the globe.