
MEDI TRIP VOLUNTEERS

PSYCHOLOGY & MENTAL HEALTH
Work with patients struggling with mental health problems seeking clinical support! Work in a busy mental health hospital department to gain new experience.
ABOUT THIS PLACEMENT
Age requirement: 18 years +
Student Intern Requirements: Degree/University/College level minimum second year Nursing or related studies.
Professional Volunteer Requirements: Minimum 6 months work experience in a related field.
Number of volunteers: Solo individuals & Groups are welcome
Duration: From 2 weeks to 12 months.
Start date: No specific start date, start at any time during the year.
Fees:
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$150 registration fee
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Book between 2 weeks and 12 months (see exact fees)
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Includes accommodation
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Placement preparation, facilitation & coordination
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Airport pick up + drop off
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Free 1 hour Swahili Language class with an experience professional instructor
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$50 per week Tanzania medical practice fee
Your Mission
Volunteer alongside a mental healthcare professional to deliver vital services to patients and their families.
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Work alongside psychiatric nurses, mental health clinicians and social workers
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Observe mental health assessments and treatments
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Assist with counselling and psychoeducational sessions
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Assist with delivery of care to people who cannot access major hospitals
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Assist with delivery of health promotion and health education
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Observe the effects of long term mental illness on day to day living amongst the most underprivileged
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Observe the widespread impacts of mental illness on the local community
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Deliver small scale observational report on your experience and findings.
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Will you make a difference?
Yes. Many bright and motivated volunteers have shone the light and shown the difference that can be made through volunteering. By providing time and care, volunteers introduce new ideas, hope and healthcare at ground level, adding to the work already being done by clinical teams.
Medi Trip Placements
Founded and run by a qualified medical professional, Medi Trip is clinically led, medically focused and patient centred. At Medi Trip we are right at the heart of the community, we work only the very best local professionals and we distinguished in being able to use our healthcare experience and expertise to pick the most suitable settings for our professional volunteers to experience. When you volunteer with Medi Trip, your volunteer placement would have been chosen specifically to suit your area of interest. You will be supervised by professionals with years of local experience. Each of our placements are carefully assessed and selected for suitability to our professional volunteers, as well as how much contribution goes into the local health and social welfare.

Mental Health in the Community
The Problem
Mental disorders are very common in almost all countries of the world, and are known to largely affect socioeconomic development and growth. The global DSM-IV disorders lifetime prevalence is estimated to be between 18.1% and 36.1%, with no significant difference between high and low and middle income countries. Tanzania is no different. Despite guidelines from WHO for mental health service frameworks, the country still struggles with successful treatment and rehabilitation of patients suffering from mental illness. Large numbers of people also suffer from drug and alcohol addiction, suicide attempts and many of whom go untreated leading to more complex clinical and social issues. Limited in-patient facilities, resources and qualified professionals competent to treat complex cases mean many remain untreated for years.