Where to start. All I can say is that SLV. Global is probably one of the most incredible companies that I have volunteered with. I volunteered in Sri Lanka last year which led me to then volunteer with them in Bali for three months as a peer co ordinator. With such a long summer break and the need to gain psychology work experience with summer sun, this was the perfect fit! As soon as I signed up, support was given from day one. This included having access to a portal where I could become fully prepped for my adventure ahead. This included support such as how to apply for a visa, what to pack and what to expect when I arrived. In regards to the actual work experience I was able to gain a real insight as to how mental health is approached in a different culture. This is incredibly valuable when applying for a doctorate in clinical psychology as it allows you to think beyond the medicine aspect and actually consider ones beliefs and how this can affect the treatment process. As Bali is a fairly new placement there will be last minute changes to the programme which requires you to be flexible. This may be frustrating at times however, it’s all about looking at the silver lining. For example, if a project that you had worked hard to plan for had been cancelled due to a ceremony then that’s a prefect opportunity to join in on the festivities and learn more about their culture. Living within a Balinese village whilst being on placement was so incredible. I have never met more hospitable people who were so kind. You truly became part of their family whilst you are there. After all the hard work during the week you are then able to travel on your weekends. I was able to visit so many beautiful places in Bali and really unwind by chilling at the beach or visiting some incredible temples. I would travel on the weekends with other volunteers that I lived and worked with. I made some incredible friendships that I know will carry on through life. Our bonds were so strong due to our similar mentatilty of having a passion for promoting positive mental health and having fun at the same time! I can’t recommend SLV enough. The amount of support from the beginning to the end is incredible. It isn’t just about gaining psychology work experience, it’s so much more.

The opportunity that SLV organization gives to all who are interested to gain a practical experience in a non-Western society is well worth it! What makes this placement different is that we had access in a variety of institutions, providing help to different service users with mental disorders in order to bring them joy. I highly recommend this placement as apart from the skills i gained, it will definitely help me to build up my CV. So don't think more about it,just complete the application form!!!!

I was apart of the 4-week Advanced Mental Health Placement in Sri Lanka, and it exceeded all of my expectations. Everything about this placement was rewarding and, in every situation, was a learning experience that I will cherish forever. I learned a lot, both about myself and my future career prospects but also about the differing views and experiences that service users within different cultures experience. Through this learning, I found that I was constantly challenged, but for all of the right reasons. It taught me to become more adaptable and also forced me to step out of my comfort zone and take lead in certain situations which I feel has improved my self-confidence. Whilst I learned a lot more than this and gained a lot of hands-on experience, these few examples are what stood out to me. I feel that everything that I learned from this experience will aid me in my academic career, my career prospects and also my life in general. I made some of the best friends and through this, created some unforgettable memories both on the amazing projects and the weekends that were spent travelling. I would highly recommend SLV.Global to anyone with an interest in global mental health development, and anyone who wants to learn a little more about creating a positive mental health attitude in numerous different countries and cultures. I am forever grateful to SLV.Global for allowing me to have this opportunity and gain so much experience. All I can say is thank you.

I had such a fantastic time in Sri Lanka volunteering. This was an experience that allowed me to understand exactly what I want to do when I am older.

Most amazing company SLV made it possible for me to experience something as amazing as working in another country in an area of psychology that I love and opened my eyes to the differences in not only attitudes, but the practices in which people are treated. Would highly recommend to anyone who is either interested in clinical Psychology experience, or even if you're interested I would definitely suggest that they give it a go!

My 5 weeks in Sri Lanka was an experience that I will never forget. The culture, my home-stay family, the service users, and the friends I made from all over the world made it such an enriching trip. The sessions that you run each day are what you make of them. If you put the effort into planning thorough sessions, you will end each day with such a rewarding feeling that I am unable to put into words. The smile that you see on the service users faces make the challenges along the way completely worth it. Although the language barrier can be a bit challenging at times and the conditions of the facilities can be a bit upsetting, this placement gives you a great idea of what it's like to work in the field of mental health. Traveling over the weekend is absolutely incredible and the island is breath-taking. The natives are so excited to have you in their country and love to chat with you about why you're visiting. The only thing that I would recommend is a bit more organization with workshops and SLV coordinated activities. Other than that, I had a great experience!

My time in India with SLV.Global has been so amazing. During the first week we had the opportunity to experience different approaches to mental health, along with sessions looking at cultural attitudes towards these practices, which took place at NIMHANS. Getting to explore southern India in the second week was also incredible, and even though our flights were cancelled due to flooding, the SLV team couldn't have been more supportive - they helped us to arrange new flights and hotels. Despite there being so much to fit into the space of two weeks, I felt like it was organised really well. At no point did I feel overwhelmed or under pressure to take part in anything that I didn't feel up to. I cannot recommend going on this placement enough; I am already looking into the Sri Lanka or Bali placements for next year!

SLV have been so supportive every step of the way, before and during the trip. The team that welcomed us in India could not have been any more welcoming and friendly. Even when we had some difficulty along the way with cancelled flights, SLV helped us get through and reorganise our way back home including free meals on our very long journey back to Bangalore. Can’t thank the SLV team enough for such an amazing experience in India. Highly recommend. Namaste 🙏🏻

I attended the SLV india workshop and it was one of the best experiences of my life. I learnt so much about mental health and the culture of India from the ancient school of wisdom and NIMHANS. Going to Mysore and wearing a saree was also an amazing experience. The 2nd week was just as good as we were able to explore more of southern india. I went to india when there were floods in Kerala and the coordinators worked so hard to keep us safe. They helped with reorganising flights and getting us safely back to Bangalore so that we could leave after the workshop finished. They were also one of the warmest and friendliest people I have ever met and I'll miss them. I would 100% recommend SLV global!

I did the SLV Sri Lanka advanced placement this summer and enjoyed every minute of it. My homestay family, my peer mentor and all the other staff were so welcoming and helpful throughout. The placements were so varied and allowed me to get a better idea of what areas I may want to specialise in.