Thank you for taking the time to look at my page.

My name is Ashley, I'm a 24 year old psychology graduate. On the 15th of February I will be traveling to Sri Lanka for four weeks with SLV Global, a volunteer organization that specifically works with those suffering from mental illness in not only Sri Lanka, but also Bali and India. These are areas that have very scarce resources for those with mental illness. In Sri Lanka there are consistently high rates of depression, alcohol abuse and substance abuse, along with some of the highest suicide rates. In fact, about 5-10% of the population is thought to be suffering from a treatable mental illness. However, because Sri Lanka is a low income country they face challenges such as poor funding and lack of trained professionals.

While I'm there I will be working alongside other volunteers in multiple institutions such as psych wards, mental health care facilities and special needs facilities with individuals who suffer from mental health problems. I will also be running activities for these patients using sensory, music and creative therapy. I will be sitting in on workshops given by Samutthana, the Kings College London resource center for trauma displacment and mental health. Their main goal is to train insititutions to respond to the psychological needs of trauma sufferers.

This unique opprotunity will offer me the chance to build upon the knowledge I already have while letting me put it into practice. I will be given the chance to learn new skills as well as improve the ones I already have by being given the chance to have hands on experience in a clinical setting. I will be gaining invaluable knowledge and experience that I will be able to bring home with me and apply to my own job.

The Mental Health Placement is voluntary and unpaid, with a cost. So I'm asking my friends, family and anyone who holds mental health close to their heart to please help sponsor my trip. I will be working and saving like crazy from now until my trip but any donations would be greatly appreciated.