Mental Health Project in Bali

Gain Unique Global Experience & Develop Your Understanding
Explore & Contribute to Mental Health and Wellbeing in Bali, Indonesia

This is your chance to apply classroom learning in a real-world setting, collaborating with local partners who value cross-cultural engagement and working alongside passionate mental health advocates. If this aligns with your interests, we promise a rewarding and inspiring global experience!

On the Mental Health Placement in Bali, you’ll deliver psycho-social group activities with trusted local initiatives, supporting both individual and community wellbeing. You’ll learn from local professionals, deepen your understanding of global mental health, and promote wellbeing through community projects.

All this while living in a traditional Balinese village, working with local and international staff, and experiencing Balinese culture. We’re proud to offer such a unique professional and cultural experience in such a beautiful setting.

At a Glance...
  • For students studying mental health, psychology and related disciplines 
  • 1 month professional Mental Health Placement in Bali, Indonesia
  • Gain an understanding of mental health in a global context
  • Collaborate with respected local professionals & contribute to community initiatives
  • Cultural immersion in a traditional village. Live with a Balinese host family.
  • Develop soft skills, cultural intelligence and leadership skills to boost your employability.
  • Includes;  pre arrival support, 24/7 in-country support, team building camp, accommodation, breakfast & dinners, food, domestic travel, training and workshops, plus cultural experiences and tours. (Flights not included)
  • Fees: ÂŁ1,895 / $3,545 AUD for 1-month in Bali.
  • University scholarships available. Download Our Funding Guide
Apply Now

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Monday’s 5pm [GMT – London] (Register Here)
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Projects in Bali 🇮🇩
Biweekly on a Wednesday’s 4pm [GMT] (Register Here)
Biweekly on Thursday’s 12pm [AEST- Brisbane] (Register Here)

Want to Find University Funding? 🌎👇

Why Join A Mental Health Placement?

Discover why our Mental Health Project in Bali offers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience, challenge yourself, and make a meaningful impact while developing valuable skills:

  1. Gain Hands-On Experience: Dive into practical mental health work, contributing to psycho-social activities under the guidance of local professionals.
  2. Challenge Yourself: Step out of your comfort zone by immersing yourself in a new culture and collaborating with local communities in Bali.
  3. Cultural Immersion: Deepen your understanding and appreciation of a new way of life by immersing into traditional village in Bali
  4. Support Sustainable Initiatives: Contribute to long-term mental health programs, providing supplementary support to sustainable local efforts.
  5. Learn from Inspiring Partners: Enhance your understanding of mental health in a global context, learning directly from experienced local professionals.
  6. Develop Essential Soft Skills: Strengthen key skills like teamwork, communication, emotional intelligence, and leadership.
Who is this Project For?

This project is ideal for individuals passionate about mental health and eager to gain hands-on experience in a cross-cultural setting. It is perfect for students and early-career professionals in psychology, social work, counseling, or related fields who are keen to expand their global perspective. Participants should be open-minded, adaptable, and committed to learning from local professionals while contributing their skills to support community wellbeing.

Due to this placement being in professional capacity and in direct contact with service users, we ask that participants have the following:

  • A passion for promoting mental health and wellbeing in the community.
  • An open-mind towards pathways that support an individual’s mental health (in the diversity of a psychosocial support session and how it can aid an individual’s mental health, in non-clinical settings).
  • Before joining us in Bali we ask that you have 3 months of work or volunteer experience, working with children or vulnerable people/groups (to ensure you are prepared for service user engagement and activity support session delivery).
What Does The Project Involve?
Cross Cultural Learning & Practical Experience

We see the projects primarily as a learning experience, offering you the chance to gain insights into mental health from a Balinese perspective and to understand how activities, processes, and support differ from those in your own country. You will have the opportunity to design and deliver activity sessions under the guidance and in collaboration with qualified local staff.

The project integrates mental health settings that value cross-cultural collaboration with students who bring relevant skills, experience, and a learning mindset, fostering a global understanding and advocacy for mental health and wellbeing. This is achieved through three key components of the programme.

Before applying, it’s important to understand that we are committed to respecting local communities and traditions. Each student is given time to learn from local people about Balinese culture, perspectives, and approaches to supporting community initiatives. Our participants contribute to initiatives that align with their experience and skill levels, similar to what they would do in their home country, but with the added benefit of learning in a global context.

1. Learning

Learn about global mental health from local professionals in respected organisations across Indonesia

2. Activity Support

Facilitate psycho-social activities at our partner projects, including community centres, supporting the mental health of children, adults and the elderly.

3. Community Wellbeing

Advance mental health & wellbeing as you collaborate with local people on community-level initiatives

Check Out Some Testimonials...
What is Your Journey in Bali 🌴👇
See How the Itinerary Comes Together...
1. Welcome to Bali! 🇮🇩
Say goodbye to everyday life and arrive in tropical Bali. You will land at Denpasar Airport where you will meet your team and begin preparing for your project ahead.
2. Team Briefing
Projects starts with a 2-day briefing at a hotel with your team. This is the time for you to get to know your teammates, acclimatise, learn about Balinese culture, prepare for life in the village and explore our project aims, objectives and partners.
3. Culture Briefing
Next is an incredible 2-day team building camp in a stunning rural setting in Bali. Here you will learn more about Balinese culture and to get involved with team building activities to help you bond with your group.
4. Meet Your Hosts
Travel to a traditional Balinese village and meet your host family and community for the first time. Your stay in the village begins with an amazing welcoming ceremony and feast.
5. Cultural Immersion
After the village orientation, some of your greatest experiences will be the simple activities of daily life and learning from your host family and community.
6. Project Delivery
Activities take place in the village, and at our trusted projects at locations across urban settings in Ubud.
7. Weekends
You are free to travel and explore Bali with your peers but you will still have accommodation in your host village. Weekend 4 is your Rest & Reflection weekend which is organised by Think Pacific
8. Leaving the Village
Say your goodbyes and leave your host family and community, with a farewell ceremony in the village.
9. Rest & Reflection
Say a sad farewell to your Balinese community as we depart the village. We finish the project by enjoying your final night with some time at a resort to de-brief. This is time to rest, relax and reflect as a group as we discuss the project goals and celebrate project achievements.
What Makes This Programme Unique?
1. Cultural Immersion

Bali boasts a vibrant and beautiful culture, and you’ll have the unique opportunity to immerse yourself in it by living with a host family in a traditional Balinese village. Alongside your teammates, you’ll experience a completely different way of life, gaining insight into the rich traditions and daily practices of the local community.

2. Professional Engagement

You will learn from local Indonesian professionals and enhance your understanding of mental health and wellbeing in a global context. Additionally, you’ll engage in six professional and community projects each week, delivering psycho-social group activities with service users to improve mental health and wellbeing, all under the guidance of experienced local professionals.

3. Locally Led

We prioritize collaboration with the local community, strengthening partnerships with community-led mental health initiatives and government services. Our goal is to empower local people by providing income and support to Balinese communities. Our team includes local Balinese staff who design and lead the placements, ensuring that we approach our work with cultural awareness and sensitivity.

4. Team Experiences

Live, work, and learn alongside a group of like-minded students who share your passion for mental health and wellbeing! Most participants join the program individually, so you’ll begin this journey together, forming close friendships and lifelong connections. Enjoy weekly activities and take the opportunity to travel together, exploring the beauty of Bali on your weekends.

5. Pastoral Support

Our team will be available 24/7 to provide you with the support you need throughout your placement, fostering both your professional and personal development. Staff members reside in the homestay village alongside you, creating an inclusive environment where you can feel comfortable seeking guidance and assistance. They are dedicated to ensuring you gain the most from your experience.

6. Adventure

Making the decision to join this placement in Bali is an incredible adventure filled with opportunities for growth. You’ll immerse yourself in a new culture, challenge yourself in meaningful ways, forge lasting friendships, and create memories that will last a lifetime. Think Pacific organises team excursion activities, alongside your opportunity to explore at the weekends.

What Does the Average Week Look Like?
Delve into the Project Structure

Watch the video below featuring our Mental Health Project Manager, Kiren, to gain insights into what your average week in Bali will look like. This will give you a closer look at the daily activities and experiences you can expect. Additionally, click through the specific components below to explore in greater detail the various projects and initiatives you can get involved with during your placement.

The Three Components in More Detail...
1. Learning & Development

We start each week with learning and development. Every Monday, we will have a workshop from a local Indonesian professional, who has experience or supporting mental health and wellbeing in Indonesia. 

Exchanging skills and ideas with local professionals and learning more about cross cultural mental health management is central to our programme.

You will also use your time on Monday for activity support session planning. Here you will plan the delivery of your sessions for the upcoming week. Our team will support you with this, building on key feedback from project staff and service users to ensure tailored support. We encourage you to  use your experience, online resources and materials to ensure an academic base to your activity planning.

2. Activity Support

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are our Activity Support project days. You will visit 6 projects each week, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.

As part of a small group, you will facilitate group psycho-social activities at our partner projects, including community centres, day centres, schools and institutions. You will work in a variety of projects, supporting the mental health and wellbeing of children, adults and the elderly.

A minimum of 50% of your activity support sessions (Tuesday-Thursday) will be working with children and youth (under 18s). With the exception of the school holiday period in Bali (mid June-mid July) where you may work on more projects supporting adults and the elderly.

We work closely with each project and receive regular feedback, to ensure your activities are aligned with the outcomes and needs of each project.  You will design your activity support sessions with your teammates, however, to maintain consistency for the projects, we ask you to follow a similar structure for delivery of the activities

3. Community Wellbeing

Our community wellbeing activities take place on Fridays. Here you will work alongside the local members of your homestay community to exchange ideas and work on local community projects and initiatives, which aim to promote wellbeing in the community, and inspire you to take action in your own home communities.

We focus on activities and discussions in three key areas of community wellbeing:  environmental, social and cultural. You could be working with the village youth, adults or elderly in the Banjar (community) hall, assisting with village clean-ups, leading a group physical activity, or discussing what challenges are facing our community today and how we can take action on them.

1-Month Project Dates👇🇮🇩🌴

14th April – 11th May 2025

25th May – 21st June 2025 

6th July – 2nd August 2025

3rd August – 30th August 2025

 

How Much Does it Cost?
Mental Health Project Fees
Registration Fee

This secures your place in the team and provides personal support from your project coordinator, access to our pre-departure portal, online preparation webinars and your Think Pacific t-shirt. Your registration fee is added to your project fees.

+
Program Fee

This covers the remaining costs of the placement. Many students receive bursaries from their universities to support their participation and/or fundraise for their program fees. It’s up to you whether you fundraise or not but your project fee is due 60 days before the project begins.

Project Costs 🌴🇮🇩🌎

We pride ourselves on the delivery of a safe, structured and personally supported experience. Our philosophy is to provide a high-quality and exceptionally well-structured international project that gives you a once-in-a-lifetime experience, whilst contributing to sustainable development.

Over 1/3 of your fee supports our international charity, the Think Pacific Foundation.

Currency ÂŁ GBP $AUD
Registration Fee 195 345
1-Month Project Fee 1700 3300
2-Month Project Fee 2400 4650
Sign Up
The Details & FAQ's...

Welcome to the FAQ section of Think Pacific’s Mental Health Project in Bali! Here, you’ll find answers to some of the most common questions about the program, including details on accommodation, health and safety, cultural immersion, and support. If you have any further questions, don’t hesitate to reach out—we’re here to support you every step of the way!

Funding, Grants, Credit & Scholarships

Think Pacific collaborates with numerous universities around the globe to promote student mobility and enhance employability opportunities. There are various scholarships and grants for students through partnerships with individual university departments and governments. Students are encouraged to explore the possibility of scholarships and bursaries for our projects.

To discover if funding is available at your university or in your region, please reach out to us at info@thinkpacific.com for personalised assistance and information.

Can I gain credit for this project as my placement?

We partner with over 50 universities who see the value of our work and some have even count our placement as part of their students’ course requirements.  This often means our programmes are used as credit towards your degree or as part of a formal placement (as required to complete your home degree programme).

Please speak to us and contact info@thinkpacific.com if you would like to use your programme as a formal placement or for university credit and we will be happy to discuss with your institution or confirm existing university partnerships we have in place.

Recruiting students who are experienced in the mental health sector helps us to make the best impact in the communities where we work and adds tremendously to the global learning when you are undertaking formal reflections and course work related to the placement.

What's Included?

What’s Included?

  • Airport welcome by Think Pacific team leaders
  • All accommodation including 2- day jungle briefing and cultural orientation, 2-day team building camp in a beautiful rural setting, homestay accommodation in traditional Balinese village and 2 days debrief at a hotel. (However, you can choose to travel with your teammates at the weekend to experience other areas of Bali)
  • Welcome ceremony and feast on your into the arrival.
  • Guest speakers and workshops from Think Pacific’s influential local partner network.
  • All in-country travel, except for optional weekends travel. Breakfast and dinner from Monday – Friday across your 4-week project, lunches not provided.
  • Guided activities, such as local hikes, excursions to sites of interest or attending local festivals or community events.
  • Think Pacific leaders living alongside the group 24/7.
  • In-country manager, Balinese-based Project Managers and UK team providing planning, risk assessment and 24-hour backup support.
  • Outstanding pastoral support and daily health and wellness check ins.
  • Air-conditioned private transfers to your placements each day.
  • Comprehensive online portal & personal volunteer project planning resources.

What’s Not Included?

The following costs are not inclusive of the programme fee. However, Think Pacific provides comprehensive and personalised support to assist:

  • Flights – Budget approximately ÂŁ800 – ÂŁ1,000
  • Insurance – Budget approximately ÂŁ100. Think Pacific can advise and provide details for recommended policy 
  • Visa – ÂŁ210 – Think Pacific manages the process and advises students on their visa.
  • Equipment – Budget approximately ÂŁ100. Comprehensive kit list and pre-departure advice provided, including specific items of clothing, footwear and first aid resources
  • Vaccinations – Budget approximately ÂŁ50 (However, vaccines are free from the NHS for most students). Vaccinations include Typhoid and Hepatitis A.
  • Spending Money – Budget approximately ÂŁ400. For small items of personal nature and lunch and drinks during the final resort phase.

Apply for university funding to cover flights, insurance and visa.

Accommodation & Food

Accommodation

During this internship, you have the unique opportunity to live in an authentic Balinese village. Often three or more generations live in one family complex, which means students will be surrounded by children, grandmas and grandpas in addition to their parents. You’ll share beautiful, but quite basic accommodation with your host family and fellow teammates.

Food

Breakfast and dinner is also provided at any Think Pacific resorts, camps or hotels. Breakfast and dinner is also included each day in the village and you’ll eat with your Balinese family. You may often find many people when you eat – in Bali, the whole family lives as one. Food is very carbohydrate-heavy, so expect lots of rice and vegetables, as this makes up the bulk of a typical diet.

You’ll have the freedom to purchase your own lunches and meals at weekends – to give you the freedom to try the wonderful array of restaurants, street food and markets available. A lunch in Bali will cost no more than ÂŁ5.

Weekends

You can choose to stay in your accommodation at the weekend but the homestay village is located outside main tourist areas and away from attractions, which is why volunteers tend to head out on Friday afternoons to spend the weekend soaking up culture and comfort. (This is your choice)

Whether you prefer lazing on a beach or visiting cultural sites, the weekend is your oyster. We would recommend budgeting ÂŁ50 per weekend for transport, activities, accommodation & all meals. We will provide you with advice on incredible things to do on the weekends.

Pre-Departure Support + Safety Advice

At Think Pacific, we understand that preparation is key to a successful and enriching internship experience. That’s why we provide comprehensive pre-departure support to ensure you feel confident and informed before setting off on your journey. Our pre-departure support includes detailed briefings, access to informative resources, and personalized guidance from our experienced team. We walk you through everything from cultural insights and project expectations to packing lists and travel logistics. This support helps you build excitement, answer your questions, and set you up for a seamless transition as you embark on your Think Pacific adventure.

  1. Access to the Pre-departure Portal: This portal provides the step-by-step process to prepare for Bali, including fundraising information, flight information, kit list, visa, cultural preparation. Student can watch videos with our team and download document.
  2. Contact our team: You can contact our team anytime between office hours, either give us a  call on 0113 335 9919 or email; info@thinkpacific.com
  3. Online community/network: You can communicate with fellow volunteers, alumni and our team through our online community, hosted on the Might Network app. Within 3 months of you departing to Bali, you shall be entered into a private group with your volunteer team.
  4. Live Pre Departure webinars: Our team host live sessions in the months leading up to your project. These are a great way for you to ask questions and delve deeper into planning for your project. They also add to the excitement!
Project Ethics, Aims and Sustainability

What are the Project Aims & Objectives?

  • We develop sustainable programs, through collaborating with local organisations and government services. We focus on building capacity and skill sharing to ensure the longevity of mental health support services
  • We aim to support students/participants development and learning of mental health and wellbeing within a global context
  • We aim to promote mental health awareness and empower local people to actively participate in mental health discussions and support initiatives
  • We aim to support local community led and government mental health initiatives in Bali by providing tailored and complementary activities to bolster current resources
  • We aim to provide students/participants with hands on experience of delivering psycho-social group activities in various mental health and community services
  • We aim to provide culturally competent support, by supporting students to be culturally sensitive and respectful of Balinese traditions and beliefs regarding mental health
  • We aim to promote holistic wellbeing, addressing not only mental health but also physical, social, and environmental factors (healthy lifestyle choices and social connections)

Project Design & Sustainability

All projects have been chosen by our team based on the need for international students to complement existing local initiatives. We work with organisations in an effort to bolster the pre-existing resources and provide further support.   This ensures programmes do not create a reliance or interrupt long term staffing structures.

Our process for partnership with local organisations is as follows:

  1. Requested
  2. Consultation
  3. Planning
  4. Logistics
  5. Resources and Materials
  6. Delivery
  7. Review and Feedback
  8. Sustainability Measures
  9. Long Term Review

Think Pacific seeks advice from community members, government contacts and Mental Health specialists within Indonesia to ensure that, as an organisation, we plan with the local community needs and considerations at the heart of any projects.

We work to not negatively affect the employment structure and also availability of placements for local students by ensuring that local volunteers are always prioritised by organisations. 

The utmost respect is given to local customs & traditions. We wish to inspire with our actions but resist imposing our ideals on others. Students are reminded to treat everyone they meet with the utmost humility and respect.

From an ethical standpoint, it is important that we provide sustainable resources, and support, to our projects in Bali. Whilst students support programmes for a short amount of time, it’s important to note

  1. The aim of the support is always intended from the outset to be supplementary and not replace local responsibilities.  In this way all parties benefit and the local projects can plan strategically to utilise the additional support.
  2. The programme is long term and in partnership with universities around the globe, which enhances this planning and ensures Think Pacific can guarantee student participants at set times and structure placements many months in advance  
  3. Project feedback is one of the core ways we are able to provide continuity in the sessions provided at all projects. Students record their progress on shared documents allowing them to communicate to present and future students the efficacy of their sessions and pass on important information. This feedback ensures that the service users receive continuity of support and a variety of activities despite the change in personnel.
  4. We ensure all activity support sessions follow the same structure to provide consistency to the service users and projects.

We rely on consistent feedback from our projects and partners to measure the impact of our work and we release reports to explain the progress of our programs. Think Pacific has grown exponentially due to demand for our initiatives since our first project in 2009 and we continue to supplement local services in the Asia Pacific in collaborative with the needs, wishes and requirements of local stakeholders.

Things to Think of Before Joining

Culture Shock

Life in a rural Balinese village is very different to life in a western city, which brings provides a fascinating experience but also its challenges! The comparatively basic standard of living, the communal nature, the strong religious beliefs and the traditional customs and values in the village, may take time to adjust to. It is completely normal to feel a little out of your depth in the first few days. With the support of your family, your team and our leaders, we find it doesn’t take long to adjust to day-to-day life.

Balinese Language

The majority of Balinese adults speak some English. There may be some language barriers with pronunciation, but as long as you talk slowly and clearly in English there is little difficulty in understanding each other. Young children and some elderly members of the community may not speak any English at all and it’s great to learn a few local words as early as you can

Local Staff

Think Pacific in-country staff support the programme and guide daily activities.We are incredibly proud that 70% of our paid staff, in Indonesia, are local residents.

By investing in local staff we ensure that we are making as positive an impact as possible within the communities where we work by not only providing long-term employment opportunities but also ensuring that those who know the country and the culture best are managing the project and the relationships with local enterprises. Our international staff provide additional support and mentorship 24/7 and enjoy sharing their lived experience of Bali.

Experience Requirements to Join the Project

Prior Experience Requirements

Due to the project work involved with our Mental Health Placement, we do ask for a level of experience to join this placement. 

We require all participants to have completed at at least 3 months work experience or volunteering experience in a relevant setting. You may have gained this in the form of part time work or volunteering, or a combination of different relevant experiences that make up the hours.

Example settings could be:

  • University Support Service
  • Mental Health Hospital
  • Medical Clinic/outpatient service
  • Befriender/Peer Support role for a mental health charity
  • Respite Centre for adults with disabilities
  • Phone Line metal health support service (Eg. Nightline)
  • School or preschool
  • Care home for the elderly
  • General Physical Health Hospital
  • Support service for homeless people
  • Refugee support service
  • LGBTQ+ support service
  • Personal experience – Eg. Carer for family member with a disability

2. An Interest in Mental Health

We want to ensure all participants have a real interest in the area of mental health and wellbeing. Questions to ask yourself ahead of applying:

  • Why do I want to join this placement?
  • What do I hope to gain from this placement?
  • Do I want to learn more about mental health in a global context?
  • Do I have a desire to experience a new culture?
  • What do I hope to gain by seeing different approaches in mental health?

Why Do We Ask For Experience To Join This Project?

It is important that we emphasis WHY we ask for 3 months experience to join this project, and what you can do, should you not have this yet. 

We advise this requirement for two reasons:

  1. We have an ethical responsibility to safeguard the service users at these projects and this is in our agreement with each individual project partner who request collaboration. 
  2. We want to ensure you have the right skills and knowledge base to take on this challenge and feel comfortable when you are delivering activities.

If you do not have the required experience as yet, but you are eager to gain this ahead of the placement, then this can also be acceptable.  Please apply and reach out to our team who can discuss this with you and provide some advice.

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