ABSTRACT
The international student population has been on the rise in Canada, with most students originating from India. This has proven to be a mutually beneficial situation for students as a pathway to better education and job opportunities and, for Canada, to combat a depleted labour force and manage its ageing population. However, the active recruitment of international students is lacking the balance of equally appropriate supports and instead laced with multiple barriers. This has led to overall poorer physical and mental health, increased incidence of suicide, higher incidence of unintended pregnancies, and increased acts of gender-based violence (GBV) within this population. In this chapter, we will discuss why students leave India, barriers to health access prior to migration, and other factors supporting their departure. This chapter will also focus on the barriers faced in Canada, such as access to quality healthcare, the incidence of various medical conditions, and strategies for better support.
