How to better improve the mental health and protect the safety of Chinese international students was addressed in a forum in Toronto over the weekend.

Representatives from the Chinese Consulate General in Toronto, Canadian universities and colleges, secondary and primary schools, Chinese students and scholars associations, mental health associations, along with police officers and lawyers attended the meeting called "Retrospect & Prospects: A Focus on the Safety and Wellness of the Chinese Students".

According to Zhuang Yaodong, the acting Chinese consul general in Toronto, at 80,000 strong, Chinese students make up the largest international pool in the consular district of Ontario and Manitoba.

"The huge population of Chinese students poses great challenges to us, particularly when it comes to protecting the security and wellness of all," Zhuang said, adding that some students have attempted suicide due to high pressure either academically or for other reasons.

"At the end of the year in 2017, we saw a rise in scammers targeting Chinese students, many of whom suffered not only economic losses but also a psychological blow," the envoy said.

Education representatives discussed the growing need to understand and discuss the difficulties faced by the international students, including language barriers, cultural differences, academic pressure, family crises and illness.

In some cases, such challenges exceeded students' capacities for coping and resulted in the development of significant mental health problems.

"Some of the international students have to drop off their studies here to go back to China to seek help," said George Liu, manager of the Chinese Students Service Centre Canada.

Peng Liping, a mental health worker at the Hong Fook Mental Health Association, shared resources and strategies on how to help Chinese students cope.

"We need to identify the major depressions students are facing and provide the coping strategies accordingly," said Peng. "We would like to collaborate with the education institutes, Consulate General and Chinese community to provide professional resources and approaches."

"Ensuring the students'safety and health is always our top priority," said Deputy Consul General Hong Hong,who is in charge of education aff airs. "A full set of mechanisms is in place to support those in danger or in need.The mechanism involves our consul general, professional institutes, Chinese students and scholars associations,Chinese community, police,lawyers and so on."

According to Hong, the assistance covers a full range from regular warnings and precautionary measures to immediate rescue and instant aid, to follow-up counselling.

"I am impressed to see the Chinese Consulate General starting to talk about mental health issues of students now," said Michael Allcott, dean of the international department at Sheridan College, which has had an increasing number of students from China.

"It's not enough for the education institutes to prepare for the mental health issue for the international students. It's only when the whole society

understands what the international students and their families need, can they get the services," Alcott said

renali@chinadailyusa.com