I was fortunate enough to have been given the opportunity to spend two weeks in India on the Clinical and Cultural Psychology Program with SLV Global. When I arrived back home I could not wait to start spreading the word about mental health practices in India and how they differ from those in Australia. I found the culture and the way in which they treat patients for mental health very interesting and valuable to my own personal knowledge and studies. The way in which they prioritise meditation and mindfulness as a first treatment option before medication opened my eyes to the different options most of the world aren’t even aware of, and the benefits they can have on a person. I would highly recommend joining one of the SLV placements if you wish to extend your knowledge and open your eyes to mental health practices around the world. I am excited to see where my journey with SLV will take me from here!

I did a one month placement in Bali a few months ago and to say the experiences was amazing is an understatement. I have always been driven to work in the mental health field, however, there was very little volunteer experiences offered in my community that allowed me to truly engage in this field. As a psychology major I had heard about different global opportunities available to give students first hand experience in their selected fields and I though it was my time to find my own opportunities. It was then that I discovered SLV.Global. Getting the chance to travel and immerse myself in my dream field of work was life changing. I was able to apply the skills I had learned in lecture halls, as well as, I got the opportunity to change my own perspective and move from a western way of thinking to a more global and diverse outlook. Every day offered new opportunities to learn and grow, ultimately furthering my success as a newcomer into this ever-growing field. Due to this, the experiences I was able to have with SLV.Global were not just amazing, they were life changing.

My time with SLV was the absolute best experience of my life. We got to promote positive mental health in the Mysore community and meet amazing people, while also getting to explore Southern India on weekends. The SLV staff was so kind and caring, props to them for providing emotional support for about 40 volunteers for a whole month! I am definitely thinking of going on another placement with SLV because you can see the impact you are making in the community and it is the most satisfying thing ever.

After just completing the first ever mental health placement in India, I have nothing but positive things to say about SLV.Global. My four weeks in India were spent engaging with service users of all ages and in various settings, from psychology wards in mental health clinics to de-addiction centres and government schools. Each service user has a different story, and it's so rewarding to be able to get to know each individual and play your part to make an impact with positive psychology. The SLV staff on projects were also amazing. They were always supportive and encouraging the team, and were ready at all times to step in if needed for whatever reason. During session planning, they were always able to provide inspiration for project ideas if we were ever unsure. There was never a time where I felt unprepared before a project and I think the staff play a huge part in this! My placement with SLV definitely went further than my expectations. I was able to learn so much about a whole new culture that contrasts so differently to the one I'm used to. We also had mini language lessons in Kannada at the beginning of session planning, which made introducing myself to service users a little more interesting! Lastly, in addition to gaining such rewarding mental health experience, I was also able to build lifelong friendships with so many people from all across the globe, who made the experience even more amazing. I absolutely recommend doing a placement with SLV, it was one of the best decisions I've ever made!

I was part of the advanced mental health placement in Sri Lanka and it was one of the best things I have decided to do! It was a unique experience whereby I was able to run sessions with service users at the national institute of mental health - an experience which would be very difficult to come by in the UK! I attended field trips in which I was able to shadow a consultant psychiatrist at a child and adolescent mental health ward at a children’s hospital, which provided myself with real insight. I was able to work with a range of service users whom were of different ages and different diagnoses and it gave me a feel for what a career would be like within that profession. Aside from the work experience I was able to experience a different culture for five weeks, and live with a Sri Lankan family, something that will stay with me for the rest of my life! I saw so many beautiful scenes and made friends from all across the world! I would definitely recommend SLV.Global.

I was involved in the first ever volunteering programme in Bali (so like any pilot programs, you do expect a lot of flexibility to bear with things being twisted around a bit). It was a truly incredible experience in how the local mental health industry was and what we could potentially do to help. There was one time when a little boy followed us to the car park after our very messy session in a Down Syndrome centre, due to language barriers and that some of the kids weren't very verbal anyways. I still could remember the surprise we had after finding out that he followed us just to say goodbye and the exact moment when I knew his smile made my day. It's just amazing how little effort (and even those that didn't go exactly in the way we wished they had) make a difference on other people's wellbeing. That was the lesson that I've always taken with me for my subsequent research/more clinical work in this field. Back in the very first programme that I participated, there was already a wide range of different options that we were exposed to, so that we had contact with children in local special-needs school, with community members, with patients in psychiatric wards etc. Although it was not yet a very clinical experience (as in we weren't exactly having lots of contact with psychiatrists/psychologists etc, but I am sure it has changed quite a bit since then), it was a very good first step. So good that now after I have had a little bit more "clinical experience" I was looking for back then, I often referred back to that experience and I am able to still reflect a lot from it.

SLV.Global has been a promising Positive Psychology approach to Mental Health and the coordination between the management, the volunteers from around the world and the local staff has been exemplary! Can't wait to continue with the awesome energy from Bali and Java to my stint in India as an Ambassador. Looking forward to continue in Sri Lanka as a Peer Mentor. Here's wishing the organisation the very best of services and service users!

In 2017 I completed a 5 week mental health placement in Sri Lanka. The experience I gained during my placement was invaluable from the hands on practical experience of running creative therapeutic sessions to working with vulnerable individuals with intellectual disability’s. I would highly recommend this placement to anyone who is looking to develop their personal skills as well as practical. Also the mentors I worked under such as supervisors and peer mentors were always helpful and approachable to any worries I had durning my placement which was a huge comfort especially being so far away from home. I can’t compliment SLV enough for the memories they have giving me, bandaragama Sri Lanka will always have a special place in my heart.

I did my placement in Sri Lanka and had really great time! Got out of my comfort zone and learned a lot of interesting things about mental health in Sri Lanka. The homestay families were great and very welcoming, and the food was amazing. Overall a good experience.

I did the india placement with slv and I would do it all over again if I could, it was such a enriching experience. I have never been part of something like this, and I have never been to Asia before. I loved the clinical part and the seminars were so informative. I was older than most actually all of the other participants but I did not mind but if ever someone was to go that is older to be aware that most of the others are students or have just recently graduated. I am a mental health worker and I learn so much. Namaste!