Between worlds: Why mental health matters for young expats and how ISF can help
The ISF International School Frankfurt sees every new passport stamp not just as a change of address, but as a change of self. Their students often grow up between languages, customs, and expectations. They become adept observers, quick learners, and compassionate friends. Yet even as they flourish, many carry the quiet weight of transition; questions of identity, belonging, and “Where do I fit now?”
Growing up between worlds
For expat children and teens, life can often feel like a series of restarts. A new country, a new culture, a new school, a new set of social rules, all of which they’re expected to pick up quickly. This experience, while rich and broadening, also comes with emotional costs.
Psychologists have coined the term Expat Child Syndrome (ECS) to describe the emotional stress that some children experience when relocating abroad. It can show up as sadness, withdrawal, irritability or a persistent sense of not quite belonging. This is especially true during adolescence, a time when identity and belonging already take centre stage.
When that developmental journey is layered with cultural dislocation and repeated transitions, things get complicated. Research and surveys can tell us a lot, but sometimes it’s the quiet patterns in day-to-day school life that reveal the most.
ISF believes academic achievement and emotional wellbeing are inseparable. A student who feels seen, safe, and connected can think more clearly, take intellectual risks, and engage more deeply. That conviction shapes how they design the school day, how their teachers are trained, and how they partner with families.
How ISF can help
Support is not a single programme; it is a culture - one shaped by ISF’s connection to the SABIS® global network. Drawing on decades of experience supporting students across continents, SABIS® schools understand that academic growth and emotional wellbeing must go hand in hand. At ISF, that culture is built through:
- Trusted relationships: Every student is known by name and story. Advisors and teachers are not only interested in grades, but also mood, friendships and stressors.
- Skilled adults: ISF invests in professional training so staff can spot early signs of strain, respond calmly, and connect students to appropriate help.
- Student voices: ISF creates spaces, such as advisory sessions, assemblies and student-led initiatives, where young people can speak about identity, change and belonging without fear of being “too much” or “not enough”.
- Partnership with families: ISF’s commitment to wellbeing extends beyond the classroom. Through the Parent Network’s Wellbeing sessions, families are invited to connect and reflect on the shared experience of raising children across cultures. Held regularly on campus, these guided discussions explore themes such as Being a Parent in an International School, Language and Culture – Barrier or Bridge?, Cultural Clashes in Parenting, and Home Is Where I Unpack. Each session offers parents a space to share stories, gain perspective, and build community in a setting that values openness and understanding.
- Peer connection: Buddy systems and transition groups help newcomers find their footing, swap practical tips, and realise they’re not alone.
Let's Be Real
Recently, ISF invited youth wellbeing specialists from Let’s Be Real to facilitate a wellness and mental health awareness session on campus. Let's Be Real specialises in helping adults, including parents, better understand and respond to the emotional wellbeing needs of young people growing up across cultures. Through engaging workshops and certified Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training, they equip communities to have braver, more informed conversations about mental health.
Their contribution helped the community name common experiences of international life and practise simple, evidence-informed responses. The session complemented the ongoing work that ISF educators and student support teams lead every day.
What every adult can do to help young people feel seen
For young expats, knowing that someone understands, or is at least trying to, can make all the difference to their state of mind. It's been shown time and again: the most powerful thing we can give young people isn’t advice; it’s presence and patience. It’s the simple act of saying, “I see you”.
Here are some tips to help:
- You don’t need to be a clinician to make a difference. You simply need presence, patience, and a willingness to listen beneath the surface.
- Start with safety. Consistent routines around constants such as sleep, meals and movement help steady the nervous system and make learning possible.
- Invite nuance. “What’s been surprisingly hard?” and “What do you miss most?” are small questions that open big conversations.
- Normalise mixed feelings. Pride and homesickness can share the same moment; acknowledging both reduces shame.
- Model self-care. Young people learn how to cope by watching how we do.
Living abroad can be a profound gift; it should not cost a young person their sense of self. ISF International School Frankfurt is committed to ensuring it doesn’t.