1. Planning for Travel: Questions to Ask Yourself

• Are there parts of travel that make you nervous or you anticipate being a challenge
  (e.g., long flights, lack of support network, new cultures, language barriers, unfamiliar foods)?
  • Action Item: Develop action items you can complete before you travel to prepare for these
    challenges and develop strategies for while you are traveling.
• Do you have any health or well-being concerns that could be hard to manage while traveling?
  • Action Item: Consider whether it’s the right time to travel or if you need extra support
    to feel confident during your trip (as outlined below).

2. Physical Health

• • Have you had any serious health conditions, injuries, or treatments in the past five years?
    • Action Item: Share your travel plans and healthcare needs with your treating physician
      or healthcare provider (e.g., UHS) before your trip.
      Discuss how to manage your condition while abroad, such as taking medication, maintaining personal networks,
      or scheduling appointments with a healthcare professional.
  • What do you need to successfully manage your physical health during travel
    (e.g., taking medication, seeing a health professional abroad, maintaining personal networks, etc.)?
    • Action Item: Identify the specific steps you’ll take to address these needs.
      For example, plan to bring medications, set up remote consultations with a healthcare professional,
      or organize a support system to ensure you stay healthy during your trip.
  • What do you need to prevent travel-related illness prior to and during your trip
    (vaccines, preventative medications, reviews of travel health notices based on your destination, etc.)?
    • Action Item: Consider scheduling a travel health consultation at
      UHS Travel Health Services
      preferably 6-8 weeks prior to travel to receive necessary immunizations, medications,
      as well as advice on food and water safety, bug bite prevention, and more.

3. Mental Health

• Are you currently being treated, or have you been treated during the last 5 years, for a mental
  health condition (e.g., addiction, depression, anxiety, PTSD, eating disorder, etc.)?
  • Action Item: Consider what you do on campus to care for these conditions
    (e.g., medication, seeing a health professional, personal networks, etc.).
• What do you need to manage your mental health and well-being during your travel experience?
  • Action Item: Outline concrete steps to address these needs.
• Do you need to consult with a mental health professional at your destination for continued care or
  to refill a prescription?
  • Action Item: Review your options for connecting with mental health professionals
    in the “Resource” section of the Managing Mental Health Abroad Guide. Review the GeoBlue member guide regarding prescription requests.
• How would this condition be treated during an acute flare-up; what coping strategies have you
  found helpful for it, and can you replicate this treatment or apply the coping strategies while traveling?
  • Action Item: Utilize Global Michigan’s Managing Mental Health Abroad Guide to develop a checklist for addressing your mental health needs, understand key study abroad
    stressors, and identify providers (e.g., using GeoBlue Global Wellness Assist, making an appointment using GeoBlue, or accessing Uwill teletherapy).
  • Action Item: Follow General Emergency Protocols for U-M International Travelers for urgent situations, which may include going to an emergency room if urgent care is needed and using GeoBlue for DirectPay or reimbursement of expenses.

4. Medications

• Are you currently taking any medication or planning to take any medication while abroad?
  • Action Item: List all your medications, both prescription and over-the-counter
    (e.g., insulin, birth control, allergy meds). Then, figure out how much of each you’ll need for your trip.
  • Action Item: Look up the translations for each medication in your destination’s language
    and identify the local brand names.
• Are these medications available in your host location/country? Are there any legal restrictions?
  Some medications common in the United States, such as Adderall, Ritalin, Sudafed, codeine, tramadol,
  and others, may be considered illegal in other countries.
  • Action Item: Use these resources to determine the legality or availability of your medications abroad:
    • Refer to the Traveling Abroad with Medicine guide, which includes calling the Embassy or Consulate of each country you will be visiting to determine if your medications can be safely brought into the country.
    • Check the International Narcotics Control Board, which provides general information about narcotics and controlled substances for countries that have information available.
    • Contact GeoBlue using the Pre-departure Program to determine if a particular medication is available in your destination(s).
    • Search for your medications on the GeoBlue Students Drug Equivalents Guide.

5. Allergies

• Do you have any drug, food, or other allergies (e.g., medications, gluten, nuts, shellfish, bee stings, wool, etc.)?
  If yes, what are your reactions if exposed?
  • Action Item: Determine how likely you will be to encounter these allergens in your host destination/s.
    Outline steps that you will take to minimize the risk of exposure and/or plan for treatment.
  • Action Item: Assess if you will be able to manage your allergies safely in this
    location or is traveling to another location more prudent.
• Will meals be provided for you by a program leader or in-country host?
  • Action Item: Determine how you will make your allergies known ahead of time
    to those coordinating your meals.

6. Dietary Needs

• Do you have any specific dietary needs (dairy-free, gluten-free, halal, kosher, vegetarian, etc.)?
  • Action Item: Research your destination to determine how easy or difficult it will be to find foods that meet your needs.
• Will your main sources of nutrition be available?
  • Action Item: Consider packing some snacks or supplements just in case.
    (Please check your country’s custom requirements to see what type of food is allowed into the country.)
• Will meals be provided for you by a program leader or in-country host?
  • Action Item: Determine how you will make your dietary needs known ahead of time to those coordinating your meals.

7. Immunizations and Prophylaxis

• Do your destination(s) have required and/or recommended immunizations and prophylaxis
  (e.g., malaria, traveler’s diarrhea, altitude sickness, etc.)?
  • Action Item: Look up your destination(s) on the CDC Traveler’s Health site.
  • Action Item: Keep a copy of your immunization record in case of a health emergency or for public health entry requirements.
• If you do not have these vaccinations and medications, how will you get them before departure?
  • Action Item: Schedule an appointment preferably 6-8 weeks prior to travel with UHS Travel Health Services to receive necessary immunizations and prescriptions.

8. Language

• Are you traveling to a destination where English is not the primary language? Do you speak the local language?
  • Action Item: Develop strategies you will use to explain your healthcare needs.
  • Action Item: If needed, identify healthcare facilities where English-speaking professionals are available. Medical facilities affiliated with GeoBlue that have English-speaking staff are listed on their website: geobluestudents.com.

9. Disability Accommodations

• Do you have a condition that requires accommodations (e.g., physical, learning, hearing, or visual disabilities)?
  Do you receive support or accommodations on campus?
  • Action Item: If you receive accommodations on campus, consider what you might need while traveling and research if these services will be available at your destination.
  • Action Item: Review the Disabilities Abroad page for more information.
  • Action Item: Students are responsible for initiating the accommodations process and notifying the U-M office or person sponsoring the travel of your accommodation needs. Use the Disabilities Accommodations Abroad Form as a starting point.

Having this information in one place can be helpful when seeking healthcare or emergency care:

• Health Care Provider Name. List the name of your regular healthcare provider (personal
  physician, group practice, etc.).
• Health Care Provider Office Contact Information. List the office phone number and email
  address of your regular healthcare provider.
• Health Care Provider Emergency Contact. List the after-hours emergency number for your
  healthcare provider.