Most emigrants find moving abroad harder than expected

The majority of recent emigrants have found the experience of moving abroad harder than they expected, with difficulty finding a job or a place to live, and homesickness and loneliness commonly cited as unforeseen challenges.

A survey by Crosscare Migrant Project of 500 Irish people who left Ireland for 53 countries worldwide between 2009 and 2014 found 64 per cent of respondents were surprised by how difficult they found their first month in their destination. Just 11 per cent said the experience had exceeded their expectations.

Trouble finding work was the most-cited reason, followed by difficulty adapting to a new environment, meeting new people, and the financial strain of paying rental deposits and adapting to a higher cost of living while waiting for a first pay check.

“The minor differences in culture became very pronounced,” wrote one respondent. “The differences in the job market, education system… Everything became strange and being Irish in the UK, no one seemed to think I should find it strange.”

Five respondents - two in the UK and three in Australia - cited experiencing anti-Irish sentiment.

The survey was carried out by Crosscare Migrant Project, the social care agency of the Dublin Archdiocese. The findings are incorporated into their new website mindhowyougo.ie, which focuses on the wellbeing and mental health of Irish emigrants and shares advice from those who have already made the move.

One in three respondents said the biggest challenge they faced was being away from family and friends, with 72 per cent saying they experienced homesickness at least once a month. Fourteen per cent said they felt homesick at least once a day. Just five per cent said they never missed home.

“There were clearly a high number of respondents undergoing considerable emotional suffering,” the report found, with one respondent referring to a past suicide attempt and another mentioned “trying not to be suicidal”. Two others mentioned coping with depression. Dealing with bereavements or missing significant family events while abroad emerged as particular challenges.

Communicating with people at home, particularly on Skype, prompted homesickness for some, while seeing photos on events they were missing was also cited as emotionally difficult for others.

Adapting to a different culture, climate, and language or accent were cited as particular difficulties experienced by 7 per cent of respondents. Issues securing or extending visas were experienced by a small number of people.

The development of new relationships in their new home was mentioned as one of the most positive aspects of moving abroad by 39 per cent of respondents. Better pay and opportunities for career progression, and a more active lifestyle and better overall quality of life were also important positive factors attributed to living overseas.

Speaking at the launch of the mindhowyougo.ie website today, Minister for Diaspora Affairs Jimmy Deenihan said that while the experience of emigrating can be "an extremely enriching one filled with new experiences", some people can find it challenging.

“The distance from home and loved ones can be difficult, and integrating into a new culture can be filled with complications. On occasion the experience can exacerbate underlying mental health issues.”

He said the website would help future emigrants prepare by “providing simple but effective advice and tools to deal with the inevitable challenges”.

The welfare of Irish people abroad, including their mental health, is central to the Government’s new diaspora policy published this week, Mr Deenihan added.

Pre-departure advice

When asked what advice they would give intending emigrants prior to departure to help them cope with the emotional challenges of emigration, 21 per cent mentioned the importance of researching things like employment opportunities, housing, visas, local culture, clubs and societies and Irish organisations in their destination.

Nineteen per cent recommended putting time into networking before leaving Ireland, by building connections with people you know already living there, connecting with social groups and organisations, and people in the same job sector.

Bringing adequate funds and budgeting carefully on arrival was also deemed important by respondents, with some suggesting that emigrants should plan to have enough money to cover at least eight weeks’ worth of expenses in case they don’t find work immediately.

“Running out of money and stressing about finances while trying to juggle finding work, accommodation and developing social networks within the first one to three months was incredibly frightening,” one respondent wrote.

Other pre-departure advice included managing expectations, preparing for the unexpected, arranging accommodation or a job in advance, spending quality time with friends and family before leaving, teaching parents to use apps like Skype, WhatsApp and Viber and setting up accounts for them, and preparing copies of essential documents such as academic qualifications, birth certs, immunisation records, bank statements and references from previous employers.

After arrival

After arriving, emigrants were advised by respondents to make a special effort to broaden their social and professional circles by joining societies, GAA clubs, or online networks like meetup.com. Some cautioned against spending too much time with other Irish people, but most said Irish groups provided great support and an easy way to meet new people.

Getting into a routine as quickly as possible was also recommended by many of the respondents, by finding a job and a place to live, exercising, opening a bank account and joining sports and social clubs.

Keeping in regular contact with friends and family in Ireland by email, phone and Skype was also deemed important, as was the need to be open to new experiences and getting to know local people in the area.

One in ten cautioned against drinking too much or taking drugs on arrival. “Avoid the booze,” wrote one respondent, “it makes you depressed and anxious, and walk or exercise more. I drink less here now than in Ireland, but initially I maintained my intake as per Irish standards, which really doesn’t work.”

Two-thirds of the respondents to the Crosscare survey were female, and one-third male. Almost eight in 10 were aged between 24 and 35. Half of all respondents were now living in Australia, with 17 per cent in the UK, and 17 per cent in Canada. The rest were scattered across 50 other countries worldwide.

One in four respondents said they didn’t know when they would return to Ireland. Fifteen per cent said they didn’t ever intend to move back to live here.