3 Recommendations Develop Tailored, Group-Specific Mental Health Interventions Universities should design and implement tailored mental health interventions that address the shared and distinct challenges faced by local and international EM students. Rather than adopting a one-size-fits-all approach, institutions should conduct regular needs assessments to identify group-specific stressors, barriers to help-seeking, and cultural expectations surrounding mental health. Interventions should be culturally responsive, linguistically accessible, and sensitive to students’ diverse social identities. Support Social Integration and Emotional Adjustment among International EM Students Autonomy Thwarting Both groups encountered career barriers due to strict Cantonese/Mandarin job requirements, limiting professional choice. Some switched majors to avoid language demands. Local EMs additionally faced appearance-based racism in recruitment. Supportive Buffers Relatedness Support Inclusive campus clubs, cultural exchange events, university prayer rooms, religious communities, halal food options, peer mentoring, and roommate-matching programmes. NGOs also strengthened social ties, though local participation remained low and policies often short-term. Language & Autonomy Support Students learned Cantonese/Mandarin via university courses (often too basic) and daily practice. Some pursued languageflexible careers; international students also felt more autonomous than in their home countries. Mental Health Support Campus counselling, mandatory mental health courses, and wellness activities helped, but services were limited by underfunding, high demand, and cultural gaps. Stigma, privacy worries, and distrust deterred some from seeking help. Many coped via family, journaling, or breaks home; others developed harmful habits. A model summarises SDT-based need-thwarting and -supporting factors for both student groups. Figure 1 Prayer rooms in universities in Hong Kong (photographed by Author 1 on 7 October and 13 December 2024) Figure 2 Common and specific need-thwarting and needsupporting experiences reported by both international and local The impact of rainfall on productivity: Implications for Chinese manufacturing Public Policy BULLETIN
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