Volunteering in Global Mental Health

'This is an indispensable guide for those considering volunteering in global mental health but should also be read by global health practitioners - it provides a practical road map as well as a thoughtful consideration of ethical issues and how to navigate different sociocultural, economic and political contexts. The reflections from volunteers who have worked across very diverse settings injects authenticity and brings home the challenges, opportunities and rewards of taking an alternative path- I will keep coming back to this.' Rashida A. Ferrand, Professor of International Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK; Director of The Health Research Unit Zimbabwe, Biomedical Research and Training Institute, Zimbabwe 'This is a hugely welcome collection on volunteering in mental health for underserved populations. It covers critical ethical principles, and provides practical tips. It will be useful for those contemplating volunteering, or about to begin, and also for people with additional experience. I particularly valued the emphasis on learning from partners and on sustainability, and the framing of volunteering as part of building equitable long-term partnerships,. The book importantly alludes to planning for ongoing mentoring of colleagues in the host setting after the volunteer is back in their usual workplace. Volunteering in global mental health is likely to be a hugely rewarding life-changing experience and this book will inspire many to take the next step.' Melanie Amna Abas, Professor of Global Mental Health, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London; Co-Chair, African Regional Network, King's College London; Consultant Psychiatrist, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust 'This book is a valuable contribution to anyone considering community support in mental health on a global level. This guide will serve many volunteers along the path of mental health support in the community for many years to come.' Nasser Loza, President, The World Federation for Mental Health (2021–2023), Director, The Behman Hospital, Maadi Psychology Center, and the International Clinic London 'Volunteers in global mental health, whose expertise, skills and understanding of local contexts, is a valuable asset to everyone giving and receiving services and programs. I believe that this textbook will equip clinicians with the right tools to make a real and positive impact on the communities that need their help. The Global Mental Health Peer Network fully endorse and highly recommend this book.' Charlene Sunkel, Founder/ CEO: Global Mental Health Peer Network 'I am delighted to have a book that address unmet needs of volunteering in global mental. This book will be a good guide for anyone interested in engaging volunteering both home and abroad. The practical case studies illustrated good examples of sustainable volunteering.' Anis Ahmed, MBBS MRCPsych PH Cert, Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist, Chair, Volunteering & International Psychiatrists, Special Interest Group (VIpSIG) at RCPsych, Clinical Lead in Psychiatry, Aston Medical School 'This is a book to be read at last three times, whilst preparing for the attachment, during the placement, and reflecting after return home. It covers a wide range of issues from the context and ethics of volunteering in countries much less well-resourced than the UK through to the practicalities of what to pack in the suitcase (the list is already rather long but should include this book!). It is thought-provoking and supportive, contains the experience of both seasoned volunteers and their hosts, and emphasises the importance of training rather than direct clinical work, of working within the existing health system structures, of not aggravating brain drain, and of reducing the personal risk of road traffic accidents-probably the biggest hazard of working in low and middleincome countries.' Rachel Jenkins, Professor Emeritas and former Director of WHO Collaborating Centre for Mental Health, Kings College London 1997–2012 'This book is a valuable contribution to anyone considering community support in mental health on a global level. This guide will serve many volunteers along the path of mental health support in the community for many years to come.'