Beneath the surface of Canada’s international education boom lies an escalating mental health crisis. Many international students, once drawn by the promise of opportunity, now face isolation, burnout and disillusionment. As colleges and universities scramble to respond with policy shifts and wellness initiatives, a sharp decline in international student intake signals a turning tide. Canadian Immigrant examines the structural cracks in the system, the coping mechanisms students are turning to, and what every prospective student must know before stepping onto Canadian soil.
Christina Furtado, a Mental Health and Wellness Specialist at guard.mean organization dedicated to supporting international students, has witnessed the crisis unfold firsthand. “Most international students we support experience heightened anxiety, depression, loneliness and chronic stress,” she says. These mental health challenges are deeply intertwined with housing, financial and academic pressures.
A 2023 survey by the Canadian Bureau for International Education found that 65 per cent of international students reported experiencing academic-related stress. According to Furtado, the roots of these challenges run deeper. “Many students come from cultures where discussing mental health is taboo. Some have faced consequences for speaking out. So even when support is available, they hesitate to access it.” She notes that this hesitation is often compounded by a lack of culturally responsive care. “International students come from a wide range of socio-economic and linguistic backgrounds. Support systems need to reflect that. That means hiring staff who speak their language, understand their cultural context and build trust.”
One of the most alarming trends Furtado has observed is the rise in substance use as a form of self-medication. “We’re seeing more students turn to alcohol or cannabis, not for fun, but to manage anxiety, stress and insomnia. Many of them want to stop but don’t know how. They fear seeking help might jeopardize their student status or immigration prospects.”
As financial and emotional pressure mounts, more students are being pushed to the brink. Some face homelessness or end up in shelters, often sharing space with asylum seekers. IRCC data shows that international students filed a record 20,245 asylum claims in 2024. In the first quarter of 2025 alone, 5,500 more claims had already been submitted — a 22 per cent increase from the same period last year.
York University spokesperson, Peter Dagonas, says institutions are committed to creating a welcoming and supportive environment. “We are taking a responsible approach to provide dedicated student services. York maintains a steady target of approximately 20 per cent intake. This approach enables us to provide tailored services, such as guaranteed housing and work-integrated learning, to support student success. We also continue to advocate at all levels of government for improved housing, healthcare, immigration pathways and academic support systems.”
“People used to call Canada the land of opportunity. Now it’s the land of survival,” says Melanie Quimson, assistant professor of Human Services at Brookes College in Calgary and an advocate for immigrant students. “Many students arrive full of hope and leave with debt or trauma. These policies confuse them, and they don’t know what steps to take when the briefs keep changing. Many of our young talent are leaving the country.”
Data from Statistics Canada confirms what communities have long warned. At the end of 2024, international student enrollment declined by 4 per cent — a sharp reversal from the 29 per cent growth between 2022 and 2023. For 2025, IRCC has introduced a national cap of 437,000 study permits — a 10 per cent decrease from 2024 — signalling a shift toward a more restrictive and selective immigration policy. It’s a clear message: while Canada’s doors remain open, they’re no longer wide.
Quimson says many of the students she speaks with face some form of exploitation, particularly wage theft and underpayment in precarious jobs. “Employers take advantage of their desperation,” she says. The irony, she adds, is that international students are a significant economic driver. In 2022 alone, they contributed approximately $37 billion to the Canadian economy. “Yet for all they bring, what’s missing is a holistic support system. And no single sector — education, health or immigration — can tackle this alone. It’s going to take a strategic, multi-level approach across all three levels of government to make any real, lasting change.”
What students need to know before they come
Despite the mounting challenges, Canada can still be a land of opportunity for those who arrive informed, prepared and supported. Too often, international students land with glossy brochures and hopeful dreams, without a clear picture of the financial, emotional and systemic hurdles they may face.
Aksnoor Singh Kamboj, special advisor on international student issues at the College Student Alliance, stresses the importance of early education and awareness. “Agencies and advisors are selling fake dreams to students abroad. That’s why it’s so important that immigration advisors are properly regulated.” Provinces such as Saskatchewan, Manitoba and British Columbia are training international recruitment agents to ensure students receive accurate information and quality support. These programs cover Canadian laws, immigration processes, and the benefits of studying, living and working in different provinces. Run in partnership with the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education, the programs also hold institutions accountable for the agents representing them, helping to prevent fraud and misinformation. “College Students Alliance (CSA) is encouraging Ontario government to explore the same too,” he adds.
Quimson urges students to look beyond marketing and research a college’s honest reputation. “Know the limits of part-time work and plan your budget carefully,” she says. Living costs like rent, food, transit and health insurance add up fast, and part-time jobs won’t cover everything. “It’s also helpful to contact the college’s international student advisor early to understand what to expect and prepare for the transition,” she adds.
Finding support
Delmon Davis, a recent graduate from Niagara College, says building a support system is essential. “Finding people who understand your language and culture and know what you’re going through makes all the difference.”
For Davis, joining student unions, cultural associations and community groups helped him feel less alone and more rooted in the new environment. “Campus clubs offer spaces to meet peers facing similar challenges. Academic and mental health resources such as student wellness centres, tutoring and writing workshops are available on campuses. But many students are ignorant of these services or hesitant to access them,” he adds.
Rethinking the Canadian promise
As Canada continues to grapple with how best to support its international student population, one truth remains: transparency, preparedness and community are essential.
“For international students, success in Canada isn’t just about getting accepted into a college or university,” says Quimson. “It’s about arriving with clear eyes, building a support network, and knowing where to turn when things get difficult. The Canadian promise should be more than a tagline — it needs to be backed by real, accessible support that helps students not just survive, but truly thrive.”
