vanaf 707€

Uitstekend 4.8rating (859)

Ghana Mental Health Volunteers

location
2 - 4 weken  ·  Leeftijd 18 - 50+

rating  Uitstekend 4.8  · 
  Geverifieerd door Volunteer World
  Uitstekend Responsgraad

Hoogste Kwaliteit Vrijwilligersproject. Dit project biedt de hoogste kwaliteit die normen stelt - ver boven het gemiddelde.

Highlights

  • 80% of PMGY volunteers are 17-22 years old
  • Gain exposure to health treatment & facilities across 2 hospital settings
  • Shadow psychiatric doctors & nurses on community outreach programs
  • Structured weekend trips to Cape Coast & Mole National Park
  • Embrace Ghanaian culture with drumming & dancing evening activities

Vooral geschikt voor

Leeftijd 18+
Alleenstaanden
Groepen

Over het programma

This amazing opportunity gives you an insight into how psychiatric services operate in Ghana today. Help this important sector to reach modern standards.

Ghana’s mental health sector is funded primarily by the government. Its psychiatric services stem back to the early 19th century where patients who suffered from mental health illnesses would be detained in prisons. This slowly developed into a ‘lunatic asylum’ created under legislation passed ...

Over het programma

Ghana’s mental health sector is funded primarily by the government. Its psychiatric services stem back to the early 19th century where patients who suffered from mental health illnesses would be detained in prisons. This slowly developed into a ‘lunatic asylum’ created under legislation passed in 1888 that would see those suffering with psychiatric illnesses being placed here.

1904 saw the first purposeful psychiatric hospital built in Ghana accommodating 200 patients to start with. Despite ongoing expansions being made to the hospital in the years onwards from this, frequent overcrowding remained a continuing issue.

For the fifty years from the late 1920s, key players in the Ghana mental healthcare system began to address key issues that were prevalent in the sector and address them accordingly. Extensive amendments were made to hospital buildings with rapid expansions in staff training and recruitment. From the 1950s innovative treatments for psychiatric illnesses such as ‘chlorpromazine’ and ‘electroconvulsive’ therapy began to emerge more prevalently. Patients were removed from chains and isolation between patients became discouraged. Staff were now refrained from punishing patients as previously had been a norm as knowledge and understanding began to increase in and around mental health and the issues associated with it.

Despite such advances, many citizens in Ghana still believed and practised in the traditional forms of psychiatric treatment. Many patients or their relatives would still opt for a traditional or herbal form of treatment such as visiting shrines, herbalist centres or prayer camps that would be relatively more accessible and inexpensive. Even though psychiatric services have been rooted in Ghana for over a century, there remains a widely held belief that mental health illnesses remain caused by supernatural evil forces that are best exiled by traditional medicine methods.

Nevertheless government policy in the long term remains to establish and expand psychiatric facilities in all regional and district hospitals. Part of this saw training courses developed in the 1970s to create registered mental nurses (RMNs) and community psychiatric nurses (CPNs). Government and University collaboration with a Danish NGO in 1994 saw funding and expertise in the training programme for CPNs and medical assistants in the Northern and Upper regions of Ghana expanded and accelerated. Two university psychiatric departments in Accra and Kumasi had been developed to offer out-patient clinical services, in addition to teaching and research work as government policy attempted to normalise, ingrain and mainstream up to date psychiatric services into the primary healthcare.

However the reality is a lot more needs to be done to achieve this even today. With a population of over 26 million, Ghana only has 13 practising psychiatrists in the public service. Inadequate staffing in general remains a recurrent problem with occupational therapists, social workers and CPNs all hard to come by. Traditional healers who can bring with them inhumane treatment methods remain prevalent in Ghana today. It is estimated that around 2.5 million people in Ghana currently suffer from some form of mental health illness.

The mental health and psychology placement in Ghana is designed to give you an insight into how psychiatric services operate in Ghana today and gain a deeper understanding to the history and developments of Ghana mental healthcare. Public education plays a leading role today in helping to overcome widely held traditional myths about mental illnesses and encouraging patients and relatives to seek early professional and alternative treatment.

Such alternative treatments focus in areas such as occupational therapies and community outreach programmes. Volunteers on the Ghana mental health programme will spend time on their programme involving themselves with such programmes. This is directly in line with the new mental health act passed in 2012 that aims to combat the stigma and discrimination associated with mentally ill people in Ghana that remains widespread and doing so via a more community-based approach as oppose to a previous institutional model that existed.

The mental health experience is based in the Tafo District at the Tafo Government hospital. The hospital incorporates 2 clinical psychiatric unit departments, an experienced psychiatric doctor and community psychiatric nurses. There is also a chance to spend time at the psychiatric wing at Manhyia hospital across your placement too. The friendliness and willingness of these healthcare professionals together with their high levels of English at both of these hospitals means they are always on hand to answer your questions and describe consultations clinically.

Essential Programme Information

As for all our volunteer programmes in Ghana, it is possible to combine multiple projects during your time with us. If this is something you’d like to do, then please apply for the main programme you’d like to take part in but also outline in your online application the details of the other projects you’d like to do. Our local team will finalise the details of your placements during your in-country orientation.

For the majority of our programmes you can apply at any time. However, we advise that you apply as soon as possible to ensure we have availability on the programme – particularly if you’re looking to travel between June and August, as spaces can fill up very quickly during this period.

It is best that you apply sooner rather than later as some of our programmes only have a limited capacity and spaces get filled very quickly. 

Travel tips

You should arrive into Kotoka International Airport in Accra (airport code ACC) on the selected Sunday start date. Programmes start on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month. You will be met at the airport by one of our local staff or an appointed driver who will be holding a named sign. They will take you to your accommodation where you will spend the rest of your day at leisure. The programme ends on the Sunday of your final week and you should depart the accommodation on this day.

Can I use this program as part of a university or college placement? 

It is certainly possible to use one of PMGY’s programmes as part of your university or college placement. Project staff can sign off any paperwork required by your course tutors. PMGY regularly receives medical, childcare, psychology and nursing placement students at our projects around the world and we have ties with some of the leading universities.

If you’re a course tutor and would like further information about how one of PMGY’s programmes could meet the placement requirements for your degree course then please contact us directly.

Is it safe to travel to PMGY destinations?

Although our volunteers work in the developing world, we always ensure our host locations are safe. Each programme has been extensively researched and has passed our strict vetting process. Our UK team undergo an extensive routine when establishing our in-country infrastructures and we continue to monitor our safety procedures on a regular basis. Furthermore, we monitor the stability of our volunteer destinations on a daily basis. Through our constant contact with consulates and embassies and our reports from our overseas teams, we are able to ensure that our volunteers are never placed in unstable regions.

The PMGY team have visited and participated in every programme we offer and verified them based on our own independent criteria. We carefully inspect every little detail of our set-up. From inspecting the living conditions, checking out the neighbourhoods you’ll be staying in, to tasting the food you’ll be eating – each and every programme we establish has gone through a lengthy and rigorous vetting process. Risk assessments have been written for all areas in which PMGY operate and our experienced local coordinators are always on-hand to manage any emergencies that may occur. Our UK team are always on the road reviewing our risk management procedures in the field and monitoring local conditions. 

In emergency situations we have the necessary protocols and equipment in place and we are able to evacuate our volunteers from potential dangers. Our local coordinators are trained to deal with emergency circumstances. 

When you join PMGY we will send you a Volunteer Handbook. This document addresses a range of issues such as health, safety, visa issues etc. Furthermore, our UK team are only ever a phone call away should you wish to discuss any aspect of your upcoming programme. When you arrive in-country, you’ll be given a comprehensive safety briefing during your orientation course by our local coordinators. We will go through everything from emergency procedures, how to use local transport and cultural differences. You’ll also be given the opportunity to purchase a local SIM card, something we strongly suggest, so you’re contactable at all times. We will provide you with a full list of the important contact numbers that you’ll need to know.

All our local teams are experienced development professionals who have years of experience in hosting international volunteers. They are our representatives on the ground and will assist you 24/7 throughout your stay. Whether you need to call home, travel at the weekend or require urgent assistance – they are there to support you.

While we cannot guarantee your volunteer experience to be 100% trouble-free we have taken all the necessary precautions to make sure each programme is as safe as possible.



Dagelijkse activiteiten

On your first day at the project the community nurses will be on hand to give a talk with you around the psychiatric history and development that Ghana has experienced. 

Across your time on the experience, will go on to learn the processes involved that the doctors and nurses go through when ...

Dagelijkse activiteiten

On your first day at the project the community nurses will be on hand to give a talk with you around the psychiatric history and development that Ghana has experienced. 

Across your time on the experience, will go on to learn the processes involved that the doctors and nurses go through when undergoing consultations with psychiatric patients. This includes assessing patient records, evaluating any progresses, measuring any diagnoses and prescribing any relevant medicines. The doctor will talk through with you generally the different ways in which they take care of patients suffering from mental health issues. There will be ongoing opportunities for you to assist in such health education procedures throughout.

Part of the mental health experience will see you embark on our community outreach programme that is led by psychiatric qualified nurses and worked in partnership with Tafo Hospital. This will involve mental health talks in communities and schools, reaching out direct to people in the community suffering from psychiatric issues and performing home visits to persons who have been to the hospital with mental health diagnosis and checking up on their progress and wellbeing. 

Results of the outreach programme are updated accordingly in reports and presentations that you will be assisting in. Please note that the outreach programme usually runs on an ad hoc basis and is dependent on the number of patients at the time.

Please note this programme has been specially designed for those already studying or looking to further study psychology/mental health and may not be appropriate or applicable for those outside this. If you are wanting to gain an insight and awareness into mental health in a new environment and culture then this programmes aims to provide you with such an opportunity to do so within a community setting.

Your level of hands-on involvement is dependent on your experience, duration of programme and willingness to get involved. The doctors will assess your capabilities and assign responsibilities accordingly. Those with little or no medical experience will assume a largely observational role. If you are studying a medically related degree, then you should have more opportunities to undertake some more basic hands-on involvement if you choose to. However, please note we can never guarantee hands-on experience, as the decision ultimately lies with the medical staff and is not something actively encouraged from our side.


Vrijetijdsactiviteiten

PMGY volunteers are based in a friendly neighbourhood of Ghana’s second city, Kumasi. The volunteer house is a 45-minute drive into Kumasi city centre, which is still dripping with Ashanti traditions and has some interesting sights.

Kumasi is still the heart of Ashanti country and the site of West ...

Vrijetijdsactiviteiten

PMGY volunteers are based in a friendly neighbourhood of Ghana’s second city, Kumasi. The volunteer house is a 45-minute drive into Kumasi city centre, which is still dripping with Ashanti traditions and has some interesting sights.

Kumasi is still the heart of Ashanti country and the site of West Africa’s largest cultural centre, the palace of the Ashanti king. The city is surrounded by rolling green hills and has a vast and vibrant central market.

Close to the market is the city’s National Cultural Centre which encompasses a museum of Ashanti history and you can even try your hand at traditional dance and drumming classes!


Voorwaarden

Voorwaarden

Minimum leeftijd: 18 jaar

Om deel te nemen aan het programma dien je tenminste 18 jaar oud te zijn op de startdatum van het programma. Er kunnen uitzonderingen gemaakt worden indien je een bewijs van toestemming kan aantonen van uw wettelijke voogd(en) of samen met je ouders deelneemt.

Taalkennis

Je dient over volgende taalkennis te beschikken Engels (gemiddeld niveau)

Opleidingsvereisten

Psychology, Mental Health op University niveau

Bewijs van goed gedrag en zeden

verplicht

Nationaliteitsbeperkingen

Geen beperkingen. Helpende handen van over de hele wereld zijn welkom.

Andere vaardigheden

You should also be physically fit, as volunteering overseas can be quite strenuous. If you have any medical/mental health conditions that may affect your participation overseas then these must be declared to us during your online application.

Tijdsinzet

Uw helpende hand wordt verwacht op maandag, dinsdag, woensdag, donderdag en vrijdag

Diensten ingesloten

Diensten ingesloten

Diensten door Plan My Gap Year

  • Accommodation 
  • Meals (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
  • Airport Pick Up
  • In-Country Orientation
  • 24 Hour Support

Afhaal aan de luchthaven op Kumasi Airport

You should arrive into Kotoka International Airport (airport code ACC) on the Sunday. The airport pickup is available 24 hours. 

On arrival, a member of our local team will be at the waiting area for you holding a PMGY Ghana sign. They will drive you straight to our partner hotel where you can relax and settle in. The hotel is around 15 minutes away from the airport.

Accomodatie

Your first night in Ghana will be spent at a hostel near to Kotoka International Airport in Accra. Our partner hostel offers basic but comfortable accommodation. You will share a room with fellow volunteers. Rooms are air conditioned here. A member of the PMGY Ghana team will also stay at the hostel to ensure you have 24/7 support and will travel with you to Kumasi the following day.

During your time with PMGY in Ghana you will live in our Volunteer House located in a friendly neighbourhood, 45 minutes drive from Kumasi city centre. You will find restaurants, convenience stores and ATMs in the centre of town. There is a small shop opposite the Volunteer House. The local community are extremely friendly. As soon as you step out of the house you’ll be greeted by smiling children! Just one of the amazing experiences you’ll have with PMGY in Ghana.

The accommodation is basic but comfortable with free Wi-Fi. Each room has bunk beds with up to 6 people per room in same-sex rooms. Volunteers are provided with fans in the room and their own mosquito net and bed linen. Bathrooms are shared, have a shower and western style toilet. The water is cold but this shouldn’t be a problem as Ghana is hot all year-round!

The house has free Wi-Fi (although intermittent) and a communal area for volunteers to hang out. There is a lounge, TV and DVD player and an outside seating area. Volunteers are welcome to use the kitchen to prepare meals or even help out when meals are being prepared. We also have a refrigerator where you can store your personal food items but please remember this is dependent on electricity and power cuts can be a frequent occurrence in Ghana!

Clothes can be hand-washed or you request a local maid to wash them for you. Living in the PMGY Volunteer House offers a great social experience. Volunteers are given their own privacy and locks to their rooms, so it is a very laid-back atmosphere.

A member of our local team will also live at the house. The house is gated and secure and our local coordinator lives on-site ensuring you have around the clock support and security.  

Please note that power cuts and water shortages are very common in Ghana. Whilst we have backup measures to combat this, there maybe times where the power cuts out or there is no water for a while so its important to be aware of this in advance.

During our busiest months (June to September) you may be placed at alternative accommodation. This could be a nearby guesthouse or one of our summer Volunteer Houses.

Eten & Drank

Volunteers will be provided with breakfast, lunch and dinner every day during their time with PMGY. Breakfast and dinner are served at the Volunteer House, whereas for lunch we provide you with a packed lunch or the project may provide you with lunch.

Pork, lamb and beef are difficult to source in Ghana and usually quite expensive. The main meat is chicken, fish and goat. There is also a real lack of fresh dairy products, so you should be prepared to live without milk and cheese etc. Most milk is tinned.

There are a number of western restaurants around a 45 minute drive out from the accommodation should you fancy picking up some home comforts. There are also some Chinese and Indian restaurants in Kumasi. Our local team will tell you all about the options available to you during your in-country orientation.

Please note most meals will incorporate lots of carbs and not so much dairy or meat compared to the UK so please be open minded around this! It may take you a few days for your body to accustom to the local food as well.

* Please inform us in your application if you have any dietary requirements. Furthermore, meals on the Sunday arrival date are NOT included, so please budget between £5 to £10 for this.

Internet toegang

Makkelijke toegang op de project site

Wat is er NIET inbegrepen?

Wat is er NIET inbegrepen?

Vlucht tickets

De dichtste luchthaven is Kumasi Airport (KMS) in Kumasi. We assisteren u met het vinden van goedkope vluchten naar Ghana. VIND GOEDKOPE VLUCHTEN

Reisverzekering

Naar het buitenland reizen is een avontuur en het is best om goed voorbereid te zijn. Plots ziek worden of gewond raken, annulaties of diefstal - een reisverzekering voor Ghana biedt zekerheid en is een meerwaarde. KRIJG EEN OFFERTE

Vaccinaties

Als je de intentie hebt om als vrijwilliger aan de slag te gaan in Ghana dien je eerst medisch advies in te winnen alvorens je eropuit trekt. Kijk de benodigde vaccinaties na voor Ghana. VACCINATIE CHECKER

Gegevens over jouw aankomst

This program starts on the 1st & 3rd Sunday of every month

Beschikbaarheid
jan. feb. mrt. apr. mei. jun. jul. aug. sep. okt. nov. dec.

Programmakosten

2 weken (min. verblijf) 707€
3 weken 838€
4 weken (max. verblijf) 969€
Gemiddelde kosten 298€/week

Programmakosten

298€ per week 2 - 4 weken Leeftijd 18 - 50+

Betaalmethodes

Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

GEEN CREDITCARDKOSTEN


Duurtijd

2 - 4 weken

Waarborg

De waarborg dient om je plek als vrijwilliger te verzekeren. Betalingen worden door PayPal behandeld, onze betrouwbare betalingsprovider. Indien je niet over een PayPal account beschikt, kan je ook met een credit kaart betalen.


Finale betaling

Uw finale betaling zal worden goedgekeurd door Plan My Gap Year gedurende de aanmeld procedure. Veel voorkomende oplossingen zijn een banktransfer of contante betaling op de projectsite.


Ontmoet je organisatie

Plan My Gap Year

Uitstekend 4.8 rating (859 beoordelingen)

Agentschap - opgericht in 2011

Geverifieerd door Volunteer World

  Uitstekend Responsgraad

Gepresenteerd door

Josh

Gesproken talen: Engels

Over de organisatie

Plan My Gap Year is an award-winning international volunteer placement organisation based in the UK.

Ontmoet je organisatie

Plan My Gap Year is an award-winning international volunteer placement organisation based in the UK. We provide safe, affordable, need-driven volunteer programmes from 1 to 24 weeks in 11 countries worldwide.

A LITTLE BIT ABOUT US…

Founded by volunteers for volunteers, Plan My Gap Year works with local communities in the developing world towards long-term sustainable goals. We know there is no better way to travel and make a positive impact on the world.

We work extremely hard to ensure that our opportunities are affordable for everyone who wants to make a difference. So fees are 100% transparent, something our volunteers really appreciate.

Plan My Gap Year structured programmes create the perfect platform for you to see the world, meet like-minded people and engage in meaningful volunteer work. We have teams in the UK and in our host destinations who will support you 24/7 throughout your time with us. Furthermore, every project on our network is regularly risk-assessed by our UK team to ensure our set up is safe and that our volunteers are making a positive impact.

There is also a great social element to our programmes. Plan My Gap Year puts you in touch with all your fellow volunteers via Facebook before you set off. Our projects receive volunteers from around the world throughout the year, so even if you’re travelling solo, you’re going to meet heaps of people along the way. Plus you’ll have plenty of opportunity to travel the country with your newfound travel buddies – it’s all part of the PMGY experience!

So if you’re thinking of doing something a bit different on your next trip abroad, then why not drop us a line and find out what extraordinary things you could be doing.

AFFORDABLE & TRANSPARENT FEES

Our aim is to make our programmes accessible to motivated travellers irrespective of their financial capacity. Plan My Gap Year focuses on providing the core requirements of a volunteer programme: safety, structure and sustainability.

We are 100% transparent with our fees. That way you know exactly how much of your money goes towards the local community.

Compared to the large majority of volunteer organisations out there, even most charities and not-for-profits, PMGY’s opportunities are significantly cheaper. Furthermore, as our reviews will testify, our support service and structured programmes are second to none.

SAFETY & RISK MANAGEMENT

Your safety is our top priority. All of Plan My Gap Years' programmes have been personally inspected and vetted by the PMGY team – which is not an industry standard by any means. We carry out independent risk assessments on an annual basis and our local teams constantly review the safety precautions we implement. This includes regular staff and safety appraisals.

 Our local teams are made up of highly experienced volunteer coordinators. They have hosted international volunteers for many years and are prepared to react in the unlikely event of an emergency. Whatever the problem, big or small, our local teams are available around the clock.

As part of our commitment to your safety, we keep in constant communication with local embassies and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office to ensure we can identify potentially dangerous situations and act upon them immediately. Our UK team are available 24/7 to assist volunteers and their families.

TRAINING & SUPPORT

We support our volunteers every step of the way. Before you go we will provide you with a detailed Volunteer Handbook, which will guide you through how to prepare for your trip. This Handbook contains literally everything you need to know – from what to pack, to how to obtain a visa, to local language guides.

Our experienced UK team are always available to provide assistance. Plan My Gap Year is always available to answer our questions and support you in anyway we can. 

On arrival, a member of our in-country team will collect you from the airport and help you settle in. Your orientation course will teach you everything you need to know about the country, how to stay safe and what to expect from your upcoming volunteer experience. 

Our local team are on-call 24/7. Whether you’ve lost your passport or just want some help in planning a weekend trip, our friendly in-country coordinators provide that safety net to ensure you are well looked after.

RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL

Plan My Gap Years' responsibility is not limited to our travellers but also the projects we support. That is why all our volunteers must provide a Criminal Background Check before they travel.

It is essential that our projects are need-driven and sustainable. We work closely with our local partners to ensure that our volunteers are contributing to bring about long-term development.

PERSONAL TOUCH

We really know our programmes. Our UK team have stayed in the accommodation, volunteered at the projects and met the volunteers. We carefully assess each application we receive so that your personality and skills are suited to the project. Whatever your query, you can feel assured that you will be speaking to someone who can tell you exactly what to expect.

HAVING FUN

One of the best aspects of volunteering is meeting some amazing like-minded people. We place over 2,000 volunteers every year so wherever and whenever you go, you have the peace of mind in knowing you will be living and working alongside other PMGY volunteers. In many of our destinations, we run our own Volunteer House accommodation, which ensures all volunteers live together, and therefore guaranteeing a strong social element. In addition, our local team are always there to help you plan any independent travel or give you some tips for what to do at the weekend.

859 beoordelingen · rating4.8

I have been with PMGY in Ghana, it was honestly an outstanding and unforgettable experience. Within just three weeks the house felt like a new home, the people working and living in the volunteer house are very kind and always trying to help you. The organiser Seth, made every wish we had come true, ...
Marta Romano rating3.2

2023 at Ghana Mental Health Volunteers

I must say that it was definitely a wonderful experience! The best part was getting to know the other volunteers and creating wonderful friendships that I will definitely carry with me for life. Even just for that reason I would recommend this experience to anyone! On the other hand, I was a little ...
Rosie Brougham rating5

2023 at Ghana Mental Health Volunteers

This trip was amazing, exploring a new country and meeting lots of new people. The staff at PMGY Ghana are a massive reason why it was so great, they are so helpful and always put us at ease as well as being a friend! Couldn't recommend ...
Charlotte rating5

2021 at Ghana Mental Health Volunteers

I had an absolutely amazing 3 weeks in Ghana on the mental health and childcare programmes. The support in answering any questions I had before the trip was great and the in-country team are absolutely amazing and really go out of their way to accommodate you. The projects themselves were truly ...
Rozemarijn rating5

2021 at Ghana Mental Health Volunteers

I was for 4 weeks in Ghana doing the Medical and Mental Health program. The support in answering any questions I had before the trip was great and the in-country team are absolutely amazing and really go out of their way to accommodate you. The projects themselves were truly eye-opening and the more ...
In January I spent 6 weeks volunteering in Ghana with 4 weeks on the mental health placement and 2 weeks on the disabled children's project. Overall I found volunteering with PMGY to be a really great experience. I learnt a lot through both projects and after 6 weeks in Ghana felt I'd managed to ...

Plaats

Afrika > West-Afrika > Ghana > Kumasi

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