Take care of your mental health before you take off this Mental Health Week

Last updated
Saturday, 08/10/2022

The world is rapidly opening up and people are keen to book their long-awaited getaways. But international travel has changed from what we remember and the stressors of the last few years, combined with the stress of travel, is leading to a number of travellers experiencing mental health issues while overseas. This Mental Health Week we are urging you to check in with your mental health before you take off.

What are we currently seeing?

Since borders began reopening, a significant number of Australian travellers have experienced mental health difficulties while travelling. Some of the more prevalent issues we’ve seen include:

  • travellers forgetting to take their medication or choosing to not take their medication because they are having a good time and think they are ok to go without
  • travellers buying medication overseas and the doses being incorrect
  • mixing medication and alcohol, leading to hospitalisation
  • jet lag and time zone changes, leading travellers to not take their medication at the right time
  • travellers going to destinations where their medication is illegal and experiencing issues with the law
  • travellers with no pre-conditions experiencing mental health episodes as the stress of the last few years is exacerbated by the stress of travel, culture shock and social isolation
  • travellers booking last-minute trips without prior planning and running out of money while overseas, not having accommodation booked or having the right visas and the stress triggering a mental health episode
  • taking part in ceremonies that involve perception-changing drugs, which trigger psychosis and lead to severe mental health consequences
  • travellers facing hospitalisation or arrest when experiencing a mental health episode and being unable to communicate what is happening to the local authorities.

How to prepare your mental health travel kit

Travelling can be a stressful experience. From transport delays and disruptions to culture shock, language barriers and social isolation, there are many factors that can put added strain on your mental well-being.

Preparing your mental health travel kit before you go can help you manage and prepare for these added stressors.

Before you head off, make sure you check off your mental health travel kit:

Check you’re prepared to travel

  • Do you have all the right documents (passport, visa) for your destination/s and do they meet the expiry restrictions (some destinations don’t allow entry if your passport is less than 6 months from expiry)?
  • Do you have enough money to cover you for your trip and a bit extra if you experience delays or unexpected events?
  • Have you booked your return flight?
  • Have you booked your accommodation?
  • Do you have an itinerary you can leave with family members or friends back home?
  • Do you have the right travel insurance (see below for more information on travel insurance and mental health)?

Check in with your mental health

  • Even people who have never experienced a mental health episode before can have difficulties when overseas, check in with yourself and how you’re feeling before you go.
  • Talk to your general practitioner (GP) or mental health professional about your trip and whether you are prepared.

Check out your destination

  • Read the travel advice for your destination/s.
  • Be aware of the possible cultural differences, language barriers and other possible triggers that might be of concern.
  • If you have a mental health condition, research your destination/s’ perceptions and treatment of this condition and be aware of what you might face if things did not go to plan.
  • Research the services available to you in your destination/s if you require assistance; many locations don’t have the same standard of health care as Australia.

Check your medication

  • Pack enough medication for your whole trip and, if possible, take extra just in case your flight gets cancelled or delayed and you are away from home longer than expected.
  • Pack your medication in your hand luggage where possible in case your bag is misplaced in transit.
  • Check that your medication is legal in the destination/s you are travelling to. If it isn’t, talk to your doctor about your options. If your destination doesn’t have caveats to allow you to travel with your medication, reconsider your need to travel there.
  • Check if there is a limitation on how much of your medication you can take into your destination/s.
  • Research where you can get a reliable replacement medication in your destination/s in case you run out or lose it.

Check your support network

  • Have a family member or friend you can call on for help or support if needed.
  • Make sure your loved ones know your itinerary and how to reach you.
  • Save important numbers in your contacts so you can access them when needed. These include local emergency numbers for your destination/s, the Australian embassy, consulate or high commission for the area you are travelling to, and the Consular Emergency Centre (+61 2 6261 3305).

Download the above mental health travel kit checklist to make sure you cover all your bases before you board.

Possible pitfalls to know

There are a number of risks overseas that can worsen or trigger mental health episodes. Being aware of these and knowing situations to avoid or prepare for can help keep you safe.

  • Medication bought overseas can be significantly stronger than what can be bought in Australia. People who have taken medication purchased overseas have experienced psychosis or overdose due to the strength of the medication.

TIP: If you have to buy more medication overseas, always check the dosage against what you normally take. 

  • Changing time zones, jet lag and exhaustion from long-haul travel can lead to confusion about the right time to take medication or accidentally skipping doses. This can lead to mental health episodes in transit or upon arrival.
  • Mental health services overseas can be limited or non-existent. Cultural attitudes in some destinations are very different to those in Australia. In some destinations you may be arrested or involuntarily admitted to hospital if you experience a severe mental health episode.
  • Traumatic events can trigger mental health episodes, even in people who don’t have pre-existing conditions. If you’ve experienced a traumatic event overseas, such as robbery or assault, be aware of the effects of this event on your mental well-being and seek support.
  • Travelling offers opportunities to try new experiences and cultures. This includes spiritual ceremonies that involve psychoactive drinks that alter perceptions, such as ayahuasca. However, psychoactive drugs can trigger serious mental health episodes that have long-lasting consequences.
  • Drink spiking can lead to mental health episodes. The drugs used to spike drinks can be very strong or mixed with harmful substances. If you’ve experienced drink spiking, be aware that the after-effects of the drug could affect your mental health as well.
  • Mental health episodes that involve the affected person acting in an abusive or aggressive manner can often lead to arrest and imprisonment.

TIP: Don’t stop taking your medication, even if you feel good. It’s important for your safety that you continue to take your medication while travelling.

  • If you experience a mental health episode on a flight, you can sometimes be disembarked at a layover point. Even if that location is not your final destination. You may not have the right visas to enter this destination and can be deported back to Australia.

Travel insurance and mental health

Travel insurance is essential when heading overseas. Not just to protect your belongings, but also to ensure you’re covered if things go wrong and you end up in hospital. If you have a pre-existing mental health condition, there are some things to consider when buying insurance:

  • Read the fine print. Many travel insurers won’t provide cover for hospitalisation, medication or missed travel caused by a mental health condition. Some insurers will provide cover if you declare a pre-existing condition and pay a higher premium. It is important to know if you’re covered for your condition.
  • Declare all pre-existing health and mental health conditions. If you don’t declare pre-existing conditions and you need to claim, your insurer can void the policy and refuse to pay your related expenses.
  • Be aware that many travel insurers will void a policy if an accident or hospitalisation results from the use of drugs or alcohol.
  • Travel insurers can void a policy if the traveller ceases taking their medication while overseas.
  • To find out if a travel insurance product includes mental health cover, check choice.com.au/travelinsurance, filtering for ‘mental health illness related claims’ and put the PDS under a microscope.
  • Read the CHOICE travel insurance guide for further information.

What else do I need to know?

For more information see:

To help plan and prepare for your trip, and to stay informed while away, subscribe for updates to your destination/s and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.