Mental Health Volunteer Programs

Most Affordable – PMGY’s volunteer abroad programs are designed to be accessible to everyone passionate about making a difference. With low fees and high-impact projects, you can create meaningful change without breaking the bank.

Best Support – From the moment you join PMGY, our dedicated international and local team provide extensive, round-the-clock support to guide and assist you through every step of your incredible PMGY adventure.

Safety Prioritised – Safety is PMGY’s number one priority! We’ve taken every precaution to ensure our gap year programs are as secure and well-structured as possible, giving you peace of mind while volunteering abroad.

Extraordinary Experiences – PMGY gives you the chance to immerse yourself in incredible cultural and travel experiences fully. Create unforgettable memories while making a difference in communities around the world.

Friendships for Life – Your PMGY journey doesn’t just end with unforgettable experiences—it’s also about forming life-long friendships with fellow volunteers from across the globe. Prepare to meet like-minded individuals and make connections that last a lifetime.

Ghana Mental Health Volunteers

The mental health volunteer placement in Ghana offers a valuable opportunity to explore how psychiatric services function within the country. PMGY’s Ghana volunteer programs combine an incredible cultural experience with a unique learning opportunity. This mental health and psychology program allows international volunteers to gain deeper insights into the history and evolution of mental healthcare in Ghana, making it a truly enriching experience.

Background to the Mental Health Program

Ghana’s mental health sector is primarily funded by the government and has a history dating back to the early 19th century. At that time, individuals with mental health illnesses were detained in prisons, which later evolved into “lunatic asylums.”

In 1904, Ghana built its first dedicated psychiatric hospital, initially accommodating 200 patients. Overcrowding soon became an issue, prompting extensive improvements to hospital facilities and a focus on staff training and recruitment for mental health services.
By the 1950s, innovative treatments like chlorpromazine and electroconvulsive therapy became more widespread. Patients were no longer restrained in chains, isolation was discouraged, and punitive measures were abolished. These changes marked significant progress in understanding and addressing mental health issues.

Despite these advances, many Ghanaians continue to rely on traditional or herbal treatments due to a belief that mental illnesses are caused by supernatural forces. Such methods, including visiting shrines, herbalist centres, or prayer camps, are often more accessible and affordable.

The government has long-term plans to integrate psychiatric facilities into all regional and district hospitals. In the 1970s, registered mental nurses (RMNs) and community psychiatric nurses (CPNs) were introduced, with the program expanding to Accra in the 1990s. Efforts have also been made to normalise and mainstream modern psychiatric services within primary healthcare.
However, challenges remain. Ghana has a population of over 26 million but only 13 practising psychiatrists in public service. Occupational therapists, social workers, and community psychiatric nurses are limited in number, and traditional healers who may use inhumane methods are still widespread.

An estimated 2.5 million people in Ghana suffer from mental health conditions. Public education is crucial in dispelling myths about mental illness and encouraging patients and families to seek early professional treatment. Alternative treatments like occupational therapies and community outreach programs are increasingly promoted, offering new hope for patients.

As a mental health volunteer in Ghana, you will often have the opportunity to engage with these innovative programs. Additionally, Ghana’s 2012 Mental Health Act aims to reduce stigma and discrimination against people with mental illnesses.

If you’re interested in exploring alternative or additional projects, our  mental health volunteering abroad project in Sri Lanka is recognised as our leading opportunity. It provides volunteers with greater exposure and involvement across diverse placements and project settings.

Mental Health Volunteer Placement Example

Ledzokuku-Krowor Municipal Assembly (LEKMA) Government Hospital –

You may join the Mental Health Program at LEKMA Hospital, also known as Ledzokuku Krowor Municipal Hospital, a major government hospital serving the Teshie and Nungua communities in Accra. The mental health unit operates within a busy municipal setting, supporting patients from a densely populated urban area where access to mental health care remains limited. The department is led by trained mental health nurses and clinicians who manage patient assessments, consultations, and follow up care.

When completing volunteer work in Accra, you will have the opportunity to observe mental health consultations and, where appropriate, join ward rounds for patients admitted in other areas of the hospital. Common conditions seen include depression, anxiety disorders, psychosis, bipolar disorder, epilepsy, substance misuse, dementia, and stress related conditions linked to social and economic pressures.

The mental health department provides three core services:

• Outpatient consultations
• Community outreach and follow up visits
• Mental health education for patients and families

The team works to improve access to mental health services, reduce stigma within the community, and increase awareness around mental health conditions and treatment options. The department sees a high number of patients each week, reflecting the growing demand for mental health support in Accra.

On your first day, you will be introduced to the hospital environment, the mental health unit, and the role of the team within LEKMA Hospital. Throughout the remainder of your placement, you will shadow mental health professionals, observing consultations, patient reviews, and potentially community outreach activities, depending on schedules and availability.

Healthcare professionals at LEKMA Hospital are welcoming and open to working with international volunteers. Staff are keen to explain diagnoses, treatment approaches, and the challenges they face within the public healthcare system. English is widely spoken, allowing clear communication and meaningful learning throughout your placement.

As part of this mental health volunteering abroad project, you will support local staff by observing patient care, reviewing records where appropriate, and discussing treatment plans and patient progress with clinicians. You will gain insight into how mental health services operate within a government hospital setting and how cultural, social, and resource related factors influence care delivery. This placement offers a valuable learning experience for anyone interested in mental health, psychology, or healthcare in a global context.

Your Volunteer Role & Typical Work Day

This program is tailored for individuals studying mental health or psychology, offering valuable insight into mental health issues and psychiatric services in Ghana. As a mental health volunteer in Ghana, you’ll also develop an understanding of the country’s history and progress in mental healthcare.

Typically, volunteers work Monday to Friday for around 3-4 hours a day, from 9am to 1pm. You’ll usually have lunch at the project site. During your free time as a volunteer in Ghana,

you can prepare questions and reflect on your experiences to make the most of your placement.

Transport to and from the mental health project is not included in your Program Fee. Most volunteers travel by trusted, known taxi drivers who take them to and from the project site each day. During orientation, the local team will guide you on how to connect with these drivers and navigate the taxi system. The journey to your project location will take around 15 minutes every day.

This project provides a unique opportunity to enhance your knowledge of mental health care in Ghana while immersing yourself in a new cultural environment.

Sri Lanka Mental Health Volunteers

As a mental health volunteer in Sri Lanka, you’ll have the opportunity to gain valuable psychology work experience while exploring mental health care in a developing country. This program is tailored for students currently studying psychology or mental health, offering a unique chance to deepen your understanding within diverse healthcare settings. Over recent decades, the demand for mental health services in Sri Lanka has significantly increased, yet the system continues to face challenges in meeting these growing needs.

Background to the Mental Health Program

Sri Lanka faces some of the highest suicide rates globally, as highlighted by the World Health Organisation, and the country’s mental health needs continue to grow. In tsunami-affected areas, an estimated 40% of people suffer from common mental disorders, with a 3% prevalence of severe mental disorders. Historically, a cultural stigma surrounding mental health in Sri Lanka, rooted in Buddhist beliefs about reincarnation, has been a barrier to progress. However, there are promising signs that attitudes and systems are evolving to address these challenges.

Progress began in the late 1970s with the establishment of a Non-Government Organisation, ‘The National Council for Mental Health.’ This initiative led to the introduction of Medical Officers of Mental Health (MOMHs) with a goal of appointing one MOMH per 70,000 people across Sri Lanka’s 276 subdistricts. Despite this progress, the ratio has presented challenges, with MOMHs managing heavy workloads, limited time with patients, and shortages of essential medicines and community-based psychiatric care facilities.

To address these issues, systematic training programs have been developed to support mental health officers. These programs include workshops, role-plays, and active learning sessions, enabling officers to pass their training on to other medical staff. Topics include assessing depression and suicide risk and explaining medication side effects to improve patient adherence.

Emerging mental health issues are now being integrated into Sri Lanka’s primary healthcare system across both public and private hospitals. This includes addressing trauma and stress-related disorders, supporting the mental health needs of physically ill patients, and providing rehabilitation for individuals with prolonged mental illnesses. Community mental health education is also helping to raise awareness and reduce stigma.

Our mental health volunteering abroad program offers participants a unique opportunity to gain a broad understanding of mental health care in a different cultural setting. Volunteers will gain valuable insight into how mental health needs are addressed within Sri Lanka’s healthcare system, focusing on challenges and innovative solutions.

The Sri Lanka volunteer program is primarily based in the Galle District, though some placements may extend to the Colombo region. This mental health project is widely regarded as one of the most diverse and engaging volunteering abroad programs.

Mental Health Volunteer Placement Examples

The mental health & psychology program provides a unique opportunity to work across diverse settings in a new cultural environment. The following placements are available, provided we receive the required paperwork from you in the correct format at least 3 weeks prior to your program start date. Please note that this project is not available to high school leavers or applicants without a psychology-related background. Placement opportunities for mental health volunteers in Sri Lanka include:

Government Base Hospital – As a mental health volunteer in Sri Lanka, you will observe mental health counsellors in a hospital setting during consultations with both in-ward and out-ward patients. You may also shadow speech therapists or art therapy sessions.

During hospital placements, doctors aim to translate and explain as much as possible while consultations are ongoing. Many doctors speak good English, enabling debriefs and opportunities for questions. However, as doctors’ schedules are busy, volunteers should be flexible and understanding, as it may not always be possible to translate every patient interaction.

In most cases, the primary treatment for mental health patients remains medication due to its accessibility. Alternative therapies such as creative treatments and meditation are less common and not widely administered to patients.

Rehabilitation Centre – Part of your placement will involve the Sithniwana Rehabilitation Centre, a facility designed to reintegrate individuals with mental illness back into society. Each mental health volunteer in Sri Lanka can participate in or observe the centre’s daily schedule, depending on the timetable.

Located about an hour from Ambalangoda, this placement is a weekly highlight for many volunteers. The Rehabilitation Centre focuses on providing occupational therapies and preparing patients to re-enter mainstream society without relapsing. The facility is primarily for adults, managed by a dedicated team of nurses and support staff.

You will have opportunities to interact with residents, ask questions, and learn about their experiences. Volunteers also provide support with occupational therapy, such as creative arts, structured daily exercise classes, and learning activities. Being proactive and asking questions is encouraged to help volunteers better understand mental health care and its associated cultural stigmas in Sri Lanka.

Lectures, Seminars & Workshops – You will also participate in a series of workshops that offer insights into mental health care in Sri Lanka. These sessions may include local consultants sharing their experiences within the country’s mental health system.

One key topic is Ayurveda, an ancient medicine system rooted in the Indian subcontinent. Ayurveda promotes natural practices, including herbal remedies, special diets, and unique treatments. A seminar will provide insights into how Ayurveda is used in mental health care alongside the traditional Sri Lankan medical system. Volunteers may also experience oil treatment sessions, which aim to alleviate depression and anxiety.

Every mental health volunteer in Sri Lanka will also have the opportunity to attend a lecture by a Buddhist monk. These sessions explore how Buddhist values, meditation, and cultural practices are used to address mental health challenges.

Additional Opportunities – On occasion, you may be invited to attend additional workshops or events. These might include visits to alcohol and drug information centres, exploring the impact of substance abuse on Sri Lankan communities. Volunteers may also visit suicide prevention centres to participate in workshops about local prevention strategies.

Depending on availability, volunteers may tour the National Institute of Mental Health, Sri Lanka’s largest mental health hospital. This includes a presentation about mental health in Sri Lanka and visits to in-patient services such as psychogeriatric, ECT, and isolation units. While rare, these opportunities provide valuable insights into how therapies, medications, and treatments are administered.

We also support students wishing to join our mental health & psychology program as part of an elective or university placement. Please contact our team to discuss your requirements in more detail.

Your Volunteer Role & Typical Work Day

As a mental health volunteer in Sri Lanka, your primary role is to gain an understanding of the country’s mental health system, procedures, and cultural influences. You will observe how these differ from the experiences you may have at home. Each day offers a varied schedule, incorporating hospital visits, consultation observations, lectures, and meditation sessions.

Your daily schedule will differ depending on the placement and activities planned. Typically, you will spend 2-5 hours per day on your placement, Monday to Friday, with timings ranging between 8am and 6pm. Depending on the location, travel times may vary from 5 minutes by tuk-tuk to local hospitals, to up to 2 hours by private car for placements in Colombo.

Flights

After confirming your place on a PMGY volunteer program, we strongly advise that you book your flights as early as possible. This will help ensure that you get the lowest airfare. You can choose to book your flights independently or we can help you with arranging them.

Your arrival airport and date are dependent on the specific destination you are joining us in:

🇬🇭 Kumasi – To join the mental health volunteer abroad project on our Ghana volunteer program, you should book your flights to Kotoka International Airport on the Sunday start date. The airport code is ACC. Volunteers in Ghana can arrive at any time on their designated Sunday start date.

🇱🇰 Ambalangoda – To join the mental health volunteer abroad project on our Sri Lanka volunteer program, you should book your flights to Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo on the Saturday start date. The airport code is CMB. Most volunteers can arrive at any time on their designated Saturday start date.

Travel Insurance

Importantly, having an appropriate travel insurance policy during your time abroad is essential. Therefore, it is mandatory for all of our international volunteers to be appropriately covered across all of their trip dates. This includes your travel to and from the host country, as well as any onward travel. Although PMGY does everything to ensure your trip is safe, inevitably things can go wrong. Therefore, having a travel insurance policy in place helps you effectively deal with any problems you may encounter during your time away.

We have partnered up with Howden Insurance to create an affordable and comprehensive optional policy. This has been designed with our international volunteers in mind, to cover our participants for all of their travel essentials. The policy is available to anyone across the globe, up to the age of 65 years. The document will cover you for your time on any PMGY destination. You can purchase PMGY Travel Insurance during your online application or you can contact us directly to arrange it.

Our International Team works tirelessly to provide extensive support leading up to your trip. From our online chat service to email support and telephone conversations, we’re always ready to assist. All international volunteers with PMGY receive a comprehensive Volunteer Handbook, which serves as your ultimate guide for planning your volunteer trip abroad. This detailed handbook includes everything from visa guidance to suggested packing lists, ensuring you’re well-prepared for your adventure.

We also have dedicated Facebook groups for each of our volunteer destinations. These groups are a fantastic resource where you can connect with our international and local teams, as well as past, present, and future volunteers. They provide a valuable platform for sharing experiences, asking questions, and staying updated with community news year after year.

Sometimes, it’s hard to imagine yourself volunteering abroad without having been there yet. To help manage expectations and give you a clear picture of what to expect, we offer a variety of engaging and informative videos on our PMGY YouTube Channel. These clips offer a visual insight into life as a PMGY volunteer. In addition, don’t miss our webinars, which run on selected Tuesdays at 4pm UK time. Our International Team provides invaluable advice in these sessions, tailored to help you prepare for your trip.

Each webinar is designed with a specific focus. Our Pre-Departure Webinar covers all the essentials you need to know before joining us abroad. The Program Preparation Webinar is project-specific, offering detailed advice and insights about your placement. Finally, our Safety Webinar provides top tips for managing your safety and wellbeing while volunteering abroad. For those simply curious about PMGY, we also run an Introductory Webinar. This session introduces our organisation, background, goals, and the volunteer opportunities we offer overseas.

🇬🇭 Kumasi – Our Ghana volunteer program is based in Kumasi, Ghana’s second-largest city, located six hours from Accra. Known for its vibrant atmosphere, Kumasi blends bustling city life with serene rural surroundings. The area’s rolling hills and cultural landmarks offer volunteers an enriching and rewarding experience.

🇱🇰 Ambalangoda – Our Sri Lanka volunteer program is based in Ambalangoda, a charming coastal town on Sri Lanka’s southwest coast, just 2.5 hours from Colombo Airport. Known for its fishing heritage and unique demonic wooden masks, Ambalangoda offers a fascinating cultural experience for volunteers.

PMGY’s mental health volunteer abroad programs are delivered by our dedicated and highly experienced in-country local teams. Every team member is fully vetted by our International Team, ensuring that your experience is both safe and rewarding. Our local community network provides the structure and support you need to make the most of your time on a mental health volunteer abroad program. From arranging your accommodation and meals to coordinating airport pick-up, in-country orientation, and 24/7 emergency support, our team ensures that every detail is covered, leaving you free to focus on making a difference as a mental health volunteer.

When you arrive for your chosen mental health volunteer abroad program, you’ll be welcomed with a detailed orientation provided by our friendly in-country team.

The orientation day is typically divided into two parts:

Theoretical Overview: The first part of the day focuses on key information to help you settle in, including cultural ‘dos and don’ts,’ safety advice, an overview of your project, and team introductions. This session ensures you feel confident and well-prepared before starting your placement.

Practical Introduction: The second part introduces you to your local area. The team will guide you to essential locations such as shops, ATMs, and transport hubs. They will also assist with practicalities such as arranging money exchange and securing a local SIM card. Please note that the exact orientation schedule may vary by country, but rest assured that our local teams will make sure you’re ready for your volunteering journey.

For many first-time travellers, heading abroad can feel both exciting and daunting. At PMGY, we take every precaution to make our mental health volunteer abroad programs as safe as possible. While no experience can ever be 100% risk-free, our robust safety measures provide peace of mind for both volunteers and their families.

Every program has been personally inspected and approved by a PMGY director. We’ve lived in the Volunteer House, experienced the orientation, and worked on the projects ourselves. Through frequent visits and daily communications, we’ve built strong, trusting relationships with our local teams, ensuring that all programs meet our high standards.

In the unlikely event of an issue, volunteers have access to several layers of support:

• PMGY Local Team
• Project Staff
• PMGY International Team

Our programs are continually monitored to evaluate volunteer experiences and ensure high standards. We rely on volunteer feedback to make ongoing improvements to improve mental health placements and volunteer opportunities. Safety and security are regularly assessed, and participants are encouraged to raise concerns with our local or International Teams, allowing us to resolve issues promptly and effectively.

Pre-Departure and In-Country Guidance

To ensure you’re fully prepared, PMGY provides comprehensive pre-departure guidance and an in-depth safety briefing during your orientation. Our local teams cover all the essentials, including project introductions, emergency procedures, tips for using local transport, and cultural differences. Volunteers also receive a full list of important contact numbers, ensuring you always know who to reach out to.

General Safety Tips

While our local teams work hard to ensure your safety, we encourage volunteers to follow these general tips for an even more secure experience:

• Be modest with jewellery worn in public.
• Avoid drinking tap water.
• Stay vigilant in crowds or near beggars; distractions may be used to target you.
• Be discreet when handling money in public.
• Plan your journeys carefully, especially at night, and know your destination in advance.
• Use only reputable transport providers; recommendations will be provided during your orientation.
• Stay in groups at night and avoid walking alone in dark or isolated areas.
• Keep valuables safe, especially when heading out of the accommodation.
• Be cautious of traffic, always looking left and right before crossing roads.
• Never accept food or drinks from strangers.

By following these guidelines and the advice provided by our in-country teams, you’ll be able to enjoy a safe, enriching, and memorable experience as a mental health volunteer abroad.

🇬🇭 Kumasi – On the Ghana volunteer program, the cost of your project transport is not included in your Program Fee. Volunteers typically share the cost of taxis to their placements. The local team will guide you through the process during orientation. Heavy traffic and poor road infrastructure are common in Kumasi, and journeys can take anywhere from 45 minutes to over an hour from the Volunteer House.

🇱🇰 Ambalangoda – On the Sri Lanka volunteer program, the cost of your project transport is included in your Program Fee. Transport is typically provided by tuk-tuk or private car. Commute times range from 10 to 45 minutes each way, depending on the location of your project.

PMGY welcomes volunteers of all nationalities and backgrounds. The minimum age to join the program is 18, and there is no upper age limit. All volunteers need to have a good level of English, although it does not need to be your first language. You do not need to speak the local language; however, learning a few words during your time with us will go a long way and greatly enrich your experience!

All participants must provide a clean criminal background check before volunteering abroad with us. Our mental health volunteering abroad programs may require you to be pursuing a relevant degree. Additionally, you may need to provide supplementary documentation before starting your placement.

To confirm your place on a PMGY program, you need to pay a Registration Fee. The remaining Program Fee is due no less than 60 days before your program start date.

For more information on how to join one of our mental health volunteer abroad programs, please visit our Application Process.