Mental Health Support for Japanese Expatriates and Their Families

Seminar | Co-hosted by One Mind, MUFG Americas Holdings Corporation& Japanese Medical Society of America

Ms. Haruka Kokaze spoke in a hybrid seminar with Dr. Maki Kano-Lueckerath focused on advancing mental health support for Japanese expatriates, their families, and locally hired employees in the United States. Drawing on research, lived experience, and organizational data, the session highlighted the unique mental and physical health challenges faced by expatriate communities, including work related stress, language barriers, unfamiliar healthcare and educational systems, closed social networks, and the cumulative impact of environmental transitions. The seminar introduced a practical, multi level approach to stress management and emphasized the critical role of organizational leadership in supporting expatriate mental health as a business imperative. Grounded in evidence-based frameworks such as the Mental Health at Work Index, the discussion underscored how effective mental health strategies can enhance employee performance, productivity, and engagement. The session concluded with a call for continued collaboration among corporations, healthcare professionals, and community partners to strengthen systems of support for expatriates, their families, and locally hired employees in the United States.