Homesickness and Mental Health — You Are Not Alone

Missing Home Is Normal — Here's How to Handle It

You're in Dublin. The weather is grey, your English isn't flowing as naturally as you hoped, and you've been scrolling through Instagram watching your friends back in Brazil at the beach. The food is different. The quiet is strange. You miss your mãe's cooking, the noise of a Brazilian street, the warmth of a São Paulo evening. This is homesickness — and nearly every Brazilian student goes through it, usually in weeks two to four, when the excitement of arriving wears off and the reality of being far from home settles in.

This article won't promise that everything will be fine instantly. But it will give you practical tools to get through the hard parts — because it does get better, and the students who manage this well are the ones who end up having transformative experiences in Ireland.

Why Weeks Two and Three Are Often the Hardest

The first week abroad tends to be exciting — everything is new, you're exploring the city, meeting your housemates, figuring out the bus system. But around week two or three, that novelty fades. You start comparing: the coffee isn't as good, people are harder to read, your English sounds worse than you thought, and the grey skies never seem to end. This dip is so universal among international students that counsellors call it the "second week slump". Knowing it's coming makes it easier to push through.

Signs You're Struggling — And When to Seek Help

There's a real difference between ordinary homesickness and something that needs professional support. Normal signs include feeling teary at unexpected moments, missing specific things from home (smells, sounds, food), wanting to call family more than usual, and a general low-level sadness that comes and goes.

Signs that warrant reaching out for extra support include: persistent difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much; losing interest in food, school, or activities you usually enjoy; feeling genuinely hopeless; or withdrawing completely from social contact. If you recognise any of these, speak to someone — starting with your school's student support service.

Practical Things That Actually Help

• Keep a routine. The structure of going to school, eating breakfast at the same time, and sleeping regular hours makes a huge difference. Chaos and isolation amplify loneliness.
• Schedule calls home — but don't make them your main social outlet. Talking to your family is important, but spending hours on calls every evening keeps you emotionally stuck in the old life rather than building the new one. Set a regular time (a morning call, Sunday video dinners) rather than calling every time you feel low.
• Get outside, even in the rain. Irish weather won't help your mood, but physical movement and whatever daylight exists genuinely regulate anxiety. A 20-minute walk to the shops or along the Grand Canal does more than staying in your room scrolling your phone.
• Cook something Brazilian. Food is one of the most powerful forms of comfort. Find pão de queijo mix on Capel Street, make a simple rice and beans meal at home. The act of cooking — and the taste that follows — is worth more than any amount of Instagram scrolling.
• Tell someone how you're feeling. In Brazilian culture, it's common to be open about emotions with family. Try to bring that openness here — talk to a classmate, your host family, or your school counsellor. You will be surprised how many people around you feel exactly the same.
• Give yourself a timeline. Commit to staying active and engaged for four weeks before making any big decisions. Feelings of "I should just go home" are almost always strongest in weeks two to four and significantly lighter by week six. Don't make permanent decisions based on temporary feelings.

Mental Health Support Available in Ireland

Ireland has several accessible options for students who need more than self-help strategies:

• Your school's student support service: All registered language schools have a welfare or student support contact. This is always the first place to start — they are experienced with international students and will not judge you for struggling.
• Jigsaw: Free mental health support for anyone aged 12–25 in Ireland. Face-to-face support at their Dublin hub (jigsaw.ie) and an online chat service. No appointment needed to access initial support.
• Samaritans: Free, confidential, 24/7 listening service. Call 116 123 from any phone in Ireland. You do not have to be in crisis to call — if you feel overwhelmed and need to speak to someone at 3am, this is the number.
• Text 50808: A free crisis text line available 24/7. Text HELLO to 50808 to speak to a trained volunteer by text. Useful if you're in a public place or prefer not to speak aloud.
• SpunOut.ie: An Irish website by young people for young people. Has honest, clear guides on managing anxiety, low mood, and how to access support in Ireland.

A Note on the Brazilian Embassy

In rare cases of serious personal crisis — bereavement back home, family emergency, or urgent situations that go beyond what your school can support — the Embassy of Brazil in Dublin can assist Brazilian nationals. Save their contact details in your phone before you need them.

How Departi Can Help

Departi's community connects you with other Brazilian students heading to Ireland, so you can build real connections before you even board your flight. Knowing there's someone in the same city, going through the same adjustment, changes the feeling of arriving alone — you can share tips, find a study partner, or simply know that what you're feeling has been felt by many people before you, and that it passes.