Mental Health Volunteer Review

by SLV.Global

This review was submitted over 4 years ago, so some of the information it contains may no longer be relevant.

Rating

4.6/5
  • About You
    4.9
  • The Company
    4.6
  • Everything Else
    4.4

    About You

  • 1. To what extent did you enjoy the insight?
  • My time with SLV in India was absolutely amazing. The time spent on projects with the team was wonderful, and it was so rewarding to see the service users benefit from the activities we planned. It was an amazing opportunity to meet so many people and make lifelong friendships. Free time to explore India on weekends/evenings was just a bonus on top.

    5/5

  • 2. To what extent did you feel valued during your time at the company or firm?
  • I felt extremely valued as a volunteer during the entire time I was on placement. Mentors and staff always provided feedback to us volunteers while on projects, and the fact that we were given ways to improve shows that staff truly valued the input we were providing and wanted to see us reach our full potential.

    5/5

  • 3. How much guidance/support did you receive during the insight?
  • At times, some of the projects could be quite confronting considering there are such contrasting cultural aspects to mental health between India and my home country. However, support from staff meant we were always well prepared, and if we needed a debrief on anything we always knew we had that support from both the team and the staff. Futhermore, we never went into projects blindly. Sessions were always well prepared, and if ever we were lost for ideas, the team would always offer some support.

    5/5

  • 4. To what extent did/will the skills you developed, and information you received, assist you in your degree studies and beyond?
  • My placement with SLV has already assisted me in working towards the future. Thanks to the skills I was able to reflect on from my time in India, I was able to gain employment as a Mental Health Support Worker. This offers me further hands on clinical experience which will be helpful for me gaining entry in Clinical Masters in the future.

    5/5

    The Company

  • 5. How well structured was the insight?
  • The placement I went on in India was a pilot program, so we went into it knowing we needed to allow some room for errors and be open to things not going smoothly 100% of the time. Even still, the coordinators of the program gave an extreme amount of support, and everyone stayed open minded and flexible which definitely helped the flow of the placement. Also, SLV were always keen to know our honest thoughts and opinions so as to take this into consideration for future programs. This was really admirable!

    5/5

  • 6. How was the general atmosphere during your insight?
  • The atmosphere was always positive, comforting, and friendly! There was never a time where I felt uncomfortable or unsupported.

    5/5

  • 7. In terms of personal training and development, to what extent did the company or firm invest in you?
  • While on placement there were plenty of opportunities for personal development and further skills training. For example, weekly workshops were included in the program, which included talks from local Clinical Psychologists, Professors, Mindfulness Leaders, and other Mental Health Professionals, all of which were extremely rewarding.

    5/5

  • 8. To what extent did the insight help you to understand what it would be like to have a full time role with the company or firm?
  • This wasn't really applicable as placements are fixed term.

    3/5

  • 9. How much did the insight help you in understanding the company culture?
  • It was clear that the culture of SLV possesses a strong emphasis on empowerment of all individuals, irrespective of what their personal circumstances may be. All services users were always respected, and their rights and privacy were taken into consideration across all projects.

    5/5

  • 10. How valuable was the content in helping you to decide on your future career path?
  • This was extremely valuable. Having the opportunity to work together with service users in this capacity reaffirmed my decision to continue studying psychology and work in mental health more in the future.

    5/5

    Everything Else

  • 11. Were you paid or reimbursed adequately for this experience?
  • This was not a paid role, it was a volunteer employment contract.


  • 12. Were there opportunities for networking and meeting other employees of the company or firm?
  • Yes, the entire team (around 40-50 volunteers) all connected and made wonderful friendships across the globe.

    5/5

  • 13. How were the networking/ social event opportunities?
  • Volunteers stayed in dorm-style accommodation together which allowed for plenty of socialisation among peers with similar interests and backgrounds. The workshops hosted by local professionals also offered networking opportunities.

    5/5

  • 14. Did you find out about activities that employees can get involved in outside of work?
  • Due to the nature of this placement, this wasn't quite applicable.

    3/5

  • 15. Would you recommend this insight to a friend?
  • Yes absolutely. I have continued with SLV as a student Ambassador to ensure I am able to continue spreading the word about these placements :)

    5/5

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Details

Insight / Vacation Scheme (< 4 Weeks)

International

February 2020


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