Mental Health Placement in Sri Lanka (March 2018)

Tom Curtis Start Date: Oct 15, 2017 - End Date: Feb 14, 2018
  • Professional Development
  • TEFL/Teach Abroad
  • Volunteer Trip
  • Sri Lanka

My Travel Story

by: Tom Curtis Start Date: Oct 15, 2017 - End Date: Feb 14, 2018
  • Professional Development
  • TEFL/Teach Abroad
  • Volunteer Trip
 On the 12 March 2018 I will be flying out to Sri Lanka to begin a 12-week mental health placement just outside the city of Colombo. This will include me working with individuals at varying stages of their recovery, teaching English/ sports to both school-children and adults in the local community, working specifically with individuals with special needs and spending time assisting in various mental health facilities. 
 Why Sri Lanka? Still recovering from a 25-year civil war, and with the wounds from the 2004 tsunami not yet healed, Sri Lanka's population is in need of more psychological support than current resources can provide. With few psychologists in residence, the primary method of treatment for those with mental health issues is pharmacological. Beds in psychiatric hospitals are scarce and although the community often rallies and aims to provide some respite for the families in need, the lack of formally qualified mental health professionals is apparent. As a volunteer I will work at a number of psychiatric facilities and community initiatives to reduce stigma and to bolster current resources. Our teams work with local professionals to provide much needed stimulation and human contact to improve wellbeing and increase self-esteem.
 As an individual with a keen interest in Mental Health, I am extremely passionate about the need to help communities both above and below the poverty line. Whilst in Sri Lanka, I will be giving much needed support to mental health professionals working in the local communities and also aiding my understanding of Mental Health conditions, which will enable me to utilise these skills in my future endeveurs.
  • Sri Lanka

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