On June 18th I will be flying out to Sri Lanka to volunteer on a Mental Health Placement for 5 weeks with SLV Global.

During the first week I will be trained in working with vulnerable individuals and those with special needs as well as being equipped with skills to teach English in a foreign country.

For the following four weeks I will be working on a variety of projects including working in a psychiatric facility to help those suffering with mental health conditions and the effects of trauma. I will also spend time in under-staffed schools focusing on children’s development and teaching English where families cannot afford education.

As this experience is unpaid, I will need to cover costs myself such as flights, the programme fee itself, vaccinations, travel insurance ect. I plan to raise most of these payments through fundraising, so please donate if you can!

Sri Lanka has one of the highest rates of suicide, substance abuse and depression in the world and self-harm is the 4th top cause of death. However, resources for people living with mental illnesses are very scarce, worsened by the 2004 tsunami and three decades of violent ethnic conflict, only ending in 2009. With few psychologists in residence, the primary method of treatment for those with mental health issues is pharmacological, with beds in psychiatric hospitals scarce. SLV’s team work with local professionals to provide much needed stimulation and human contact to increase wellbeing and self-esteem.

Thank you in advance for any support you can give. I am aiming to raise £300 on Justgiving and will be very grateful for any donations made towards this important cause. Your contribution would be very much appreciated and will go a long way in my effort to put a smile on the face of someone who isn’t as lucky as us!

Molly x