Voluntary Mental Heath Placement in Bali

Megan Payne Start Date: Nov 26, 2019 - End Date: Jun 12, 2020
  • Bali, Indonesia

My Travel Story

by: Megan Payne Start Date: Nov 26, 2019 - End Date: Jun 12, 2020
In June 2020 I will be going to Bali for 4 weeks with SLV Global to undertake community projects, work in psychiatric wards and schools to promote positive mental health and interact with service users.

I am currently studying psychology at university so working with SLV Global is an invaluable opportunity for hands-on experience in multiple areas of psychology. This is also an area of work that I hold really close to my heart, having suffered with a mental illness myself for 8 years. By going on this trip, not only will it help others and build my professional devleopment, but it holds a significant role in my recovery by helping me grow as a person, independant of the mental illness.

During the four weeks I will be spending Monday to Friday involved in projects, which include working with child, adult and elderly service users in schools, nursing homes and psychiatric wards. The main aim of this work is to promote positive mental health amongst service users and the wider community, with the focus on preventing mental illness developing or deteriorating through increasing people’s confidence, sense of accomplishment, self-worth and self-esteem.

Alongside this, I will be participating in workshops run by qualified mental health professionals such as clinical psychologists and psychiatrists as well as specialists in topics like children's development, occupational therapy and special educational needs. The aim of these is to enhance my own knowledge of the different working roles available, and what it takes to be the most effective professional as possible, whilst widening my awareness of different cultural perspectives and approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of individuals.

The cost of the trip is £1,450 which includes accommodation and meals Monday to Friday, support, training, trips, talks, a professional reference, certificate of learning and transport during the week. There is also the additional costs of the flights, visa, travel insurance, DBS, jabs and spending money.

As this is a voluntary placement we are encouraged to fundraise the cost of the trip. I’m extremely excited to participate in this as I believe it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; I know I will be well and truly pushed out of my comfort zone but the benefit I hope to bring to the service users and community members will be incredibly rewarding.

If you would like to read up a little more on the organisation, or more specifically the mental health placement in Bali, I will leave the links below.

Thank you so much for taking time and interest in reading this and I would really appreciate any contribution.

All the best,

Megan 

  • Bali, Indonesia