Mental Health Placement in Bali, Indonesia

Gabrielle Moots Start Date: Apr 3, 2018 - End Date: Aug 2, 2018
  • Bali, Indonesia

My Travel Story

by: Gabrielle Moots Start Date: Apr 3, 2018 - End Date: Aug 2, 2018
SLV is a voluntary organization that started in 2010. This organization started by Lucy Nightingale, a psychology graduate from the University of Manchester and Yasintha Rathnayake, a youth worker in Sri Lanka. SLV runs projects to help the local community while simultaneously helping students and graduates to gain valuable experience in a different culture. I am fundraising, as I’ll be joining SLV in Bali for 12 weeks from May through August on the Mental Health placement.

There is a distinct lack of understanding about mental health conditions in Bali and few facilities where people can seek treatment if they need it. Traditional healers are more commonly consulted than a doctor for anything psychological, which means that those who need help are often ill for extended periods before ever seeing a medical professional. As a volunteer I will be working in Bali's only inpatient psychiatric facility and assisting the exceptionally dedicated team by running therapeutic activities to provide much needed stimulation and human contact for service users. I will be trained by the team and have the opportunity to work on projects in a clinical setting, help with youth teaching, children's development, and special needs work. In addition, each week I will be able to attend a workshop focusing on global approaches to mental health.

This is an amazing opportunity for me as I am a recent Psychology graduate from the Ohio State University and would love to be able to expand my learning opportunities in the field before returning to school for my Master's and PhD in School/ Clinical Psychology!

My volunteering experiences so far include volunteering through SCORE International in the Dominican Republic while working with a local school and the surround villages. Additionally, throughout college I have had the opportunity to intern at the Nisonger Center and Buckeye Ranch, working with at risk youth and children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. I am also currently working as a preschool teacher at an amazing organization in Columbus, OH called Bridgeway Academy, whose mission is to inspire the potential and celebrate the ability of every child. I have been blessed to experience volunteering in the States and abroad and want to continue offering any help I can as well as expanding my education in the psychology field.

For those of you who want to help donate I am fully open and available to babysit, aid in any odd task around the home, wear an outfit of your choice for the day, or really do anything your heart desires (and appropriate) etc. Thank you in advance for your generosity and support! Any help is greatly appreciated :)!
  • Bali, Indonesia