My placement in Ghana was an incredible learning experience and one of the highlights of my studies. At the Psychiatric Hospital, I had the opportunity to conduct Mental State Examinations, take patient histories, complete discharge assessments, and sit in on counselling sessions, followed by debriefs with psychologists. It was amazing to know that my notes were actually used in case formulation, which made the experience feel truly meaningful. I spent most of my time in the counselling unit and male inpatient wards, where I gained confidence working one-to-one with patients and learned far more by doing than just observing.

I also gained medical exposure at a Hospital, including time in NICU and observing a C-section, which helped me understand the close link between physical and mental health. The children’s home was equally memorable, and although emotionally demanding, the children were full of energy and kindness. The staff across all placements were incredibly supportive, and this experience greatly increased my confidence, cultural awareness, and passion for working in mental health.

Volunteering in Ghana was an unforgettable and deeply rewarding experience. From the warm welcome at the childrens Home, where the children greeted us with banners and endless enthusiasm, to the meaningful clinical exposure at the Psychiatric Hospital, every placement offered valuable learning. I worked mainly in the rehabilitation and counselling wards, where I observed psychotherapy, motivational enhancement therapy, and family therapy, helped assess clients, and contributed to treatment planning for cases including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, psychosis, and addiction. This hands-on experience strengthened my practical therapy skills and helped me adopt a more client-centred approach.

I also gained insight into medical care at a mother & child Hospital, including time in NICU and supporting a community blood donation, which highlighted the strong link between physical and mental health. The staff across all placements were supportive and passionate about their communities. Beyond the placements, the kindness of local people, cultural festivals, and shared experiences with other volunteers made this journey truly special. This placement confirmed my passion for mental health work and gave me skills and perspectives I’ll carry forward in my career.

Volunteering in South Africa was a meaningful cultural and community-focused experience that gave me insight into social development work. I took part in important activities such as the Annual Conference on Child Abuse and the Little Lions training, and I found it valuable to learn how organisations work within communities, including programmes for teen mothers and women’s empowerment. Interacting with the children was enjoyable, and I appreciated learning about the social work approaches used to support families and young people.

The experience helped me better understand cultural differences and the realities of community-based interventions. While the programme felt more aligned with social work than clinical psychology, it was still eye-opening to observe how grassroots support systems operate and how community programmes are structured. Participating in conferences and visiting community projects gave me broader awareness of child protection and empowerment initiatives. Alongside the placement, I also enjoyed exploring the country, including a safari and visiting Cape Town, which added to the overall experience and cultural immersion.

I joined the programme with mixed feelings, but my experience quickly became both fulfilling and eye-opening. The team were welcoming, motivated, and clearly proud of the work they do, and I worked really well with the other volunteers, which made the experience productive and enjoyable. I was involved in community outreach, gave presentations, interacted with children , taking part in awareness sessions with teenage boys with intellectual disabilities on sensitive topics like child pregnancy, responsibility, consent, and safe behaviour.

I used visual aids, real-life examples, and open discussions to communicate in a respectful and engaging way, and the boys were receptive and asked thoughtful questions. These experiences directly related to my psychology studies and helped me apply developmental psychology and communication strategies in real-world settings. I developed patience, empathy, active listening, and adaptability, and gained confidence working with people from different backgrounds.

Being part of a team committed to making a real difference showed me how even small actions can have a big impact and confirmed my interest in community mental health.

My psychology and mental health placement in Ghana was truly the best time of my life. I was able to sit in on multiple counselling sessions and actively participate, including cases involving depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and addiction, which was incredible and so educational. At the hospital Nancy and Dr Ike were amazing, and I also learned a lot during meetings at the rehab centre. Interacting with psychiatric patients helped me gain a real understanding of their lived experience of mental health disorders, which confirmed that clinical psychology is the career path I want to pursue and gave me confidence in my abilities.

Working with the children at the home was life-changing — I built friendships with them, especially through playing football, and they were some of the kindest and happiest children I’ve ever met. The programme was well organised, I felt very safe, and everyone was welcoming. Even with some quieter weeks due to nursing strikes, the experience was surreal, meaningful, and unforgettable.

During my psychology and mental health placement in Ghana, I gained valuable hands-on experience working in hospitals and learning directly from real cases.

The opportunity to observe, engage, and understand how mental health care works in a different setting was incredibly meaningful and enhanced both my education and personal interests. Overall, it was a great experience, and I would absolutely encourage others to sign up — if not now, then when? These placements are such a great opportunity to travel the world while enhancing your education; it’s truly the best of both worlds.

I also loved journaling nearly every day and taking so many pictures to document everything I learned. I also think the 10% discount is a great incentive, especially for students who may feel burdened by the price, making this experience more accessible to more people.