About the project

A multidisciplinary team of Clinical Psychiatrists, Psychologist, Physiotherapist and nurses provide psychiatric and wellness services at a health centre in the Kisongo area of Arusha. The team conduct the majority of their services within the community, during home visits in patients homes or in recovery centres based in the community. Additionally, they conduct a large amount of educational and awareness training, workshops, campaigns and radio shows promoting mental health services and encouraging the public to become more informed about mental health and reduce the stigma surrounding seeking psychiatric treatment. 

Location: Kisongo, Arusha

What they do: 

• Psychiatric assessments, diagnosis, treatment 

• Treatment through psychopharmaceuticals: medication administration

• Treatment through talk therapy using the Cognitive Behavioural Therapy model

• Intensive family therapy and family counselling sessions

• Addiction support: Drug and alcohol addiction support at recovery and sober living houses

• Referrals for severely ill patients for in patient treatment

• Suicide prevention and awareness

• Education and awareness around depression 

• Trauma support and treatment through intensive treatment

• Community and home visits.

Criteria:

• 18 years old +

• 2nd year + Undergraduate University Student: 

For experienced interns: 6 months + experience for professional candidates from related professional backgrounds only

• Background in mental health work, counselling, psychiatry, social work, occupational therapy, addiction and rehabilitation, community mental health, nursing, medicine.

Educational background

• Psychology; Medicine; Nursing; Mental Health; Social Work; Occupational Therapy 

Minimum duration: 2 weeks

Times of the year it would be unavailable (school holidays etc):

• None

Soft skills:

• Self direction when situations appear unclear/unambiguous

• Entering environments where local customs, safety awareness and local regulations should respected

• Acceptance and understanding of strong cultural differences

• Situations or scenarios that can feel overwhelming or unmanageable

• Lack of basic resources; funding, equipment and additional staffing

• Working in rural settings with no modern conveniences

• Long distance travel (risk assessed as: safe)

The Patients

The team receives patients at their treatment facility, but conducts a large proportion of their work on home visits and within the surrounding community.

The patients have a varying scope of mental health complaints or presentations most commonly:

• Depression and suicidal ideation

• Bipolar Disorder

• Substance induced psychosis

• Drug and alcohol addiction

• Schizophrenia

The lead Clinical Psychiatrist will offer identification of the patients individual symptoms, diagnosis and treatment based on the patient reports, history and assessment of any other contributing reports or factors. 

The Mission

In partnership with District Executive Director His Excellency Suleiman Hamis Msumi and his dedicated team, our interns have been invited to join an innovative program to support the work of their lead Clinical Psychiatrist providing mental health support in the community. Our interns will work alongside an experienced and qualified team with patients that are struggling with mental health issues. The team’s long term goal is to establish their clinic as a wellness centre providing holistic treatment and preventative healthcare. .

Intern activities

• .Working under supervision with a qualified member of staff

• Attending patient assessment during clinics at the health centre

• Attending home visits 

• Attending rehabilitation facility visits where assessments, treatments or group sessions are conducted

• Attending counselling and therapy sessions: Medication administration, Psychotherapy or CBT treatment

• Helping with documentation and report writing

• Helping with data collection and research implementation

• Attending weekly team meetings for evaluations and case discussions

• Assisting with awareness campaigns: community workshops, radio campaigns and other activities related to reaching the broader community.

Project Management: 

• Contributing ideas for improvement and continued development of the project

• Contributing own theoretical knowledge or work experience: exchanging ideas and knowledge with the team.

Training and supporting the staff: 

• Experienced interns are welcome to give presentations on ideas that can build on the work the team is already doing.

How will you get around?

Please note this project is 45-60 mins travel. Additional travel between patient visits and work sites in the community. For your placement, you will travel like a local and walk or take public transport. You will need to set a small budget aside for this (around $1 per day by local minibuses, 4 to 5 days per week). It is important you are prepared and comfortable to travel across town to reach various work sites, this is a demanding role that requires dedication. You will also need to budget for your own lunch or make a small contribution to join the school lunch of rice, beans and vegetables. 

Important VISA & Permit Information

You will be required to pay for a VISA work assignment. Please note this is a legal requirement and your responsibility. Please enquire for more details.