Volunteering in a Mental Health Placement in Sri Lanka

Cecilia Ines Start Date: Aug 10, 2016 - End Date: Dec 9, 2016
  • Sri Lanka
  • Colombo, Western Province, Sri Lanka

My Travel Story

by: Cecilia Ines Start Date: Aug 10, 2016 - End Date: Dec 9, 2016
Hi lovely people! This October I will be volunteering for one month in a Mental Health Placement in Sri Lanka with SLV (Student & Graduate Placements Abroad) Sri Lanka has suffered tragedies like the Tsunami and twenty-five year civil war ended in May 2009. Although the fighting has ceased, more than 70,000 people have died and hundreds of thousands are left internally displaced. Thousands of civilians have fled the country. The country has an average of 1.36 beds in mental health outpatient facilities per 100,000 of the population. Furthermore, only 0.09 psychologist and 0.33 social workers are available for 100.000 of the population. This lack of availability of resources and facilities means that many people go left untreated, and many suffering from psychological condition face stigma, isolation and discrimination. I will be working in the psychiatric facility and a rehabilitation centre with individuals suffering with metal health issues. I will be also teaching English to children and young people on vocational courses. I will be also attending a workshops about the role of psychology within a Sri Lankan context and the psychological healing related to the Tsunami and post-war reconciliation, and PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) run by Samutthana, the King's College London resource centre for trauma, displacement and mental health in Sri Lanka. It will be one of the most intense life experience and I will be standing on the side of the Sri Lankan community figuring out where my passion/skills meet their needs. Any small donation will mean a lot to me. THANK. YOU in advance for your generosity and support ( whatever it's monetary or moral! ) :-)
  • Sri Lanka
  • Colombo, Western Province, Sri Lanka