Doctor's Without Borders? Mental Health Workers? Anyone have info/experience?
 

I've just returned from an amazing trip to Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania and have been changed by the experience. My husband is a practicing doctor of psychology and we've heard that Doctors Without Borders has a mental health unit. We desperately want to help, maybe in the Congo working with rape victims. Can anyone share information?
THANK YOU.

http://www.msf.org/msfinternational/volunteer/

kerikeri :)

and, specifically for psychologists:

http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org...ntalhealth.cfm

kerikeri :)

very disorganized of me, but here's a third, indicating the irc is actually taking the lead in the specific area in which you are interested, so it might be best to start with them and try to join their program, instead:

http://www.theirc.org/news/rape-vict...pport0215.html

kerikeri :)

Thank you kerikeri! Are you affiliated with Doctors without Borders?

no. i volunteered in africa long term for a different agency- i'm not medically trained.

as you can imagine there are so many agencies involved in various aspects of african assistance: my experience is that you should go through the people who have the program you want in place. if it is msf, then great, but if it is another organization, it is best to work through them.

kerikeri :)

and you're welcome, of course!

i just wanted to add, having read your other posts and seeing that you may be inclined to travel and help not just help, you may want to assist in the tsunami areas. thousands of children lost their lives and endure ongoing psychological problems.

when i was there there was a desparate need for mental health professionals to assist these kids. i don't expect that has changed.

investigate khao lak thailand. there is probably a need in indonesia and sri lanka as well.

sorry this is not africa related!

kerikeri :)

thousand of children lost their "parents" is what i meant to say above.

Yes I think you're right. Having just started doing research into this subject, I've already heard a lot about the tsunami areas. And we would be happy to help anywhere. Africa is a focus because we were recnetly there and we were so affected by the trip. We did not go to the DRC but I have been listening to reports from the BBC and The World about the vicious rapes that happen with frequency in the area. But, we are open to going anywhere. Thank you KeriKeri, I appreciate your help.

I am not a doctor, now have I volunteered out there, but I am a big fan of MSF and I contribute each month.

I hope you are able to make it to Congo or anywhere else and work with them.