I have always tried to put some time aside to carry out community outreach programs in less economically developed countries. Whenever I plan to travel to south Asia I always do it with the intention to give something back in return to their impeccable cultural experience, which includes connecting with the locals, eating the variety of food, embracing the nature and landscape as well as the essence in beauty of their differences in morals and values. So far, I have volunteered in Srilanka, India and Thailand and now on the 3rd of September 2018, I will be beginning my 4 weeks volunteering in Bali; helping the local community with a variety of issues via approaching mental health.

I have previously volunteered in hospitals, schools and street children project but this year I had chosen a mental health setting because I have first-hand experienced it and seen my loved ones suffer. To some extent everyone here experiences mental health issues but when it becomes unmanageable then that’s a problem which one needs to seek help for. I want to see how mental health management is carried out in a different culture and whether there is a cultural variation in mental health sufferers.

SLV Global is a company that established in 2010 by a group of psychology graduates journeyed to Sri Lanka, where the resources for those living with mental illness were scarce then as it expanded it recently extended the reach to Bali. The aim is to continue to focus on global mental health by providing volunteers the chance to gain much desired psychology work experience in various communities that need extra support. Neuroscience and psychology is an ever growing area and learning about different cultural approaches to mental health treatment has too. This project will essentially teach us the ways that ancient Eastern traditions like yoga and meditation can complement modern clinical psychology to promote positive mental health.

Off course I would be lying if this wasn’t to partly aid my career development but I want to become the greatest neuropsychologist as one can be. I will be learning a new unique set of skills but it is hard work and just because is on a beautiful island it doesn’t mean I can treat it as a holiday as I need to remind myself my patients comes first and prioritise the quality of the work!

My fundraising of the £1500 will cover my placement fee including; homestay, placement training and to be a part of the project itself, as well as covering project resources, such as arts and crafts materials, sporting items for activities with children and adult during therapy based sessions. Alongside this, the fundraising will also cover visa and vaccinations. The total cost of the trip will be roughly around £3100 as this will include flights, weekend accommodation, and the acceptance fee and for other resources, so therefore I will be raising the rest of this fee through working and saving!

To show further support for mental health I am planning to hike the 3 peaks challenge in the U.K for a good cause like Mind (for better mental health) charity.

Thank you for reading my page and if anybody else is interested in taking part visit- https://slv.global/apply-now

& any donations through this website I will forever be grateful :)