Join my Journey to Sri Lanka!

Paige Mizrahi Start Date: Nov 9, 2017 - End Date: May 8, 2018
  • Sri Lanka
  • Colombo, Western Province, Sri Lanka

My Travel Story

by: Paige Mizrahi Start Date: Nov 9, 2017 - End Date: May 8, 2018
From 23rd July-24th August 2018, I will be travelling to Sri Lanka on (hopefully) one of my first Mental Health volunteering opportunities. This placement is organised with SLV.GLOBAL, consisting of psychology graduates, and led by Lucy Nightingale.

These 5 weeks will consist of different projects, including youth teaching and working with people with special needs. I will also be helping in settings such as psychiatric hospitals, rehabilitation centres and community outreach programmes.

Mental Health has been a cause for concern in Sri Lanka for some time now. The country has one of the highest suicide rates in the world; nearly 100,000 people will attempt suicide every year. Resources and funding for Mental Health in the country has always been low. There are states that have only one psychiatrist for every 500,000 people in Sri Lanka. Not only is the Mental Health of these individuals a key concern, but there is concern about their general well-being, which is one of the main reasons why I signed up as a volunteer for this placement.

Although studying Psychology at University has given me knowledge, hands-on experience is something that I really want to be more involved in. I was given the opportunity to work with JAMI (Jewish Association for Mental Illness) in the Summer, where I worked in the hub with service-users, taking part in day-to-day sessions, as well as talking to some of the service-users on a one-to-one basis. Openly, at first I found this experience incredibly difficult. However, as the days went on, I enjoyed the experience more and more. Many people would be surprised how powerful it is to listen to someone, and how this can change their confidence and attitude towards things.

As close friends will know, Psychology and Mental Health is a major passion of mine. Having family members with their own difficulties has definitely been a struggle, but it has given me a deeper understanding of certain issues within Mental Health, and it has also led me to want to go into this field for my future career.

I hope that I can make a difference to all the people that I meet on my future journey, or at least help them have a positive outlook on life.

I will be eternally grateful for any donations made, and the support would also mean a lot to me.
  • Sri Lanka
  • Colombo, Western Province, Sri Lanka

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