At a glance
- Work alongside local psychologists to address mental health issues in a mental health clinic or by taking part in community-based initiatives.
- You’ll encounter a wide range of patient profiles, which exposes you to a broad range of mental health issues.
- Raise awareness around these issues, so that people are better able to understand the importance of mental health.
Start Dates:
Completely flexible dates
See DatesMinimum Duration:
Two Weeks
Age:
18 or over
You should be studying towards a psychology or social work degree, or have a qualification in guidance counselling.
Is a Psychology Internship in Jamaica right for me?
Are you a current psychology student, or a recent graduate? Looking to gain psychology work experience in Jamaica? Then this internship is ideal for you. You’ll be able to put your theoretical knowledge into practice while helping people in need of treatment for mental illness.
In order to join this project, you need to be studying social work, psychology or guidance counseling, or have a qualification in one of these fields. You’ll also need to commit to at least four weeks on this project.
Our start and end dates are flexible, however, so you can choose a time that suits you. We encourage you to stay longer so you can do and learn more.
You will work alongside qualified local professionals during your time in Jamaica. Furthermore, you will have a Projects Abroad supervisor who will ensure that you get the most out of your placement. You will receive a thorough induction upon arrival, to ensure you are prepared before you begin working with patients.
What will I do at my psychology placement in Jamaica?
There are two different options on this internship. Depending on your skills and experience, you can either work in a mental health clinic and hospital, or take part in outreach work in the local community. Tasks will include:
- Interact with and support patients
- Observe clinical assessments and play therapy
- Conduct educational sessions about mental health issues
- Assist with planning for different events
- Conduct research and data analysis
Interact with and support patients
Whichever internship option you choose, you’ll get the chance to interact with patients who have a variety of different conditions. At the mental health clinic, you will spend time interviewing patients, engaging children in the reception area, visiting patients in the hospital, and taking part in play therapy. If you choose the community-based option, you’ll take part in supervised home visits, and conduct conducting individual or group counselling sessions.
Observe clinical assessments and play therapy
At the mental health clinic, you will have the chance to observe clinical assessments of patients. This gives you great insight into how psychologists diagnose and treat people with mental illness. You may also have the opportunity to observe play therapy sessions, or take part in them, as mentioned above.
Conduct educational sessions about mental health issues
Raising awareness about mental health is important when it comes to breaking stigmas and helping people to identify signs of mental illness. Those who choose to work in the local community will conduct classroom guidance sessions, as well as parenting workshops, at a local high school. Topics will include self-esteem, anger management, conflict resolution, child abuse, and adjustment issues.
Assist with planning for different events
At the mental health clinic, you may also spend time planning and conducting workshops and presentations. Interns based in the community will also do something similar, assisting with the planning and running of seminars and special events. The overall aim is to educate people about mental illness, from treatment options to prevention.
Conduct research and data analysis
For interns at the mental health clinic, you may find yourself helping with research and data analysis. This research will focus on mental illness in the Jamaican context. You will examine risk factors and the affected or at-risk population, for example. The data will be then used for policy drafts or designing mental health programmes.
Where in Jamaica will I work?
Mandeville
You will be based in the large town of Mandeville, situated around 100 km west of the capital, Kingston. Interns work at a government-run mental health clinic for adults and children. If you choose the community-based option, you’ll spend time at a local high school and a home for the homeless and mentally challenged.
While Mandeville is fairly quiet, it has all the amenities you might need, such as restaurants, banks, and shops. Furthermore, there are many travel opportunities on the island, so you will be able to explore all that it has to offer. These include incredible natural wonders, a lively reggae music scene, and exciting activities such as river rafting.
A typical day on the Psychology Project in Jamaica project
Wake up in the home of your host family, and enjoy a delicious breakfast before you start your working day. You’ll travel to your placement via taxi. On your first day, our staff will travel with you to show you the way.
A typical day on this internship runs from 8.30am - 2.30pm, Monday to Friday. Your daily activities will vary, depending on the placement you choose.
If you have chosen to intern at a mental health clinic, you will you will work directly with young children and adults with various mental health issues. This will take place under the supervision of a qualified psychologist. On any given day, you may find yourself interviewing patients, observing assessments or assisting with research.
For those who have selected the community-based option, you’ll spend much of your time on outreaches. These may involve individual or group counselling, conducting classroom guidance sessions, and supervised home visits. Please note that this option is not available during July and August.
Once you’ve finished work for the day, it’s time to explore your temporary home. You can join in on our weekly activities, which are a great way to have fun, meet your fellow volunteers and learn about aspects of the local culture. You should definitely sample some Jamaican cuisine from one of the local restaurants. Or why not enjoy a home cooked dinner with your host family?
What are the aims and impact of this project?
There are two main aims to this internship: to provide you with a practical learning experience and to support those with mental illness.
Many of the interns who join us are looking for practical work experience in an international environment. Here at Projects Abroad, we encourage the cross-cultural exchange of knowledge. You will learn from qualified local staff, and gain insight into mental health practice in a different country.
On this internship, you will also work to benefit those in the local community. There is a growing number of people being diagnosed with mental illness, such as depression, schizophrenia, and sleeping disorders. Unfortunately, there is still a lot of stigma surrounding these kinds of conditions.
You will assist the local psychologists with their work, helping with the treatment of patients. It is also important for interns to raise awareness around mental health disorders. This helps to break the stigma, and helps people to identify these conditions for early treatment.
Join us on a Psychology internship in Jamaica, which provides you with practical work experience and benefits the local community.
Management plans
We set out the aims and objectives of our projects in documents called Management Plans. We use them to properly plan the work you’ll do. They also help us measure and evaluate our achievements and impact each year.
Ultimately, our Management Plans help us make our projects better. This in turn means you get to be part of something that makes a real impact where it’s needed. Read more about our Management Plans.
Measuring our impact
Our projects work towards clear long-term goals, with specific annual objectives. Every volunteer and intern we send to these projects helps us work towards these goals, no matter how long they spend on our projects.
Every year we take a step back and look at how much progress we've made towards these goals. We put together a Global Impact Report, which documents our achievements. Find out more about the impact our global community of volunteers, interns and staff make, and read the latest report.
Food and accommodation
You'll stay with a host family in Mandeville. They will welcome you into their home, eager to share their customs and have you teach them about your own culture. We believe that this is the best way to immerse yourself in the culture of Jamaica and have a truly unique experience.
We will always try to let you live alongside at least one other Projects Abroad volunteer or intern at the same host family. Your room will be modest, but comfortable, clean, and safe.
Your programme fee includes three meals a day.
Find out more about our accommodation.
Leisure activities and free time
When you think of the tropical Caribbean, Jamaica is one of the first countries that comes to mind. With its white-sand beaches and vibrant culture, this island nation has a lot to offer. It’s an amazing location to volunteer in, and explore during your free time.
The local cuisine is definitely worth trying, with tasty dishes like Jamaican patties and jerk chicken. You can enjoy these at seaside restaurants and then head down to the sea for a cooling swim in the ocean.
With a rich culture and friendly locals, exploring markets and museums is a must-do. Visiting the famous Bob Marley Museum in Kingston makes for an enlightening weekend trip. While you’re there, you can also tour Fort Charles and the National Heroes Park.
There will be other volunteers working on different projects in Jamaica while you’re there. This means you can choose to explore independently or connect with other volunteers and travel as a group.
Safety and staff support
Your safety and security is our prime concern. We have many procedures and systems to ensure you have the support you need to enjoy your trip with peace of mind. Our Projects Abroad staff are available 24 hours a day to help, and will be on hand to make sure you settle in well at your accommodation and placement. If you encounter any problems, they will be available to help at any time.
Find out more about safety and backup.
This placement is fully researched, safety audited, and risk assessed in accordance with the British Standard BS8848 for the Adventure Travel Sector.
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