Corporate Medical Volunteers Promote Mental Wellness in Tanzania
Convenient MD volunteers Jo Beltre, Brittany Berg, and Diana McWilliam shared their healthcare expertise in homes, schools, and village meetings, promoting mental wellness in the Ukwega Ward. In this report from the field, they stop to reflect on the community’s uncanny receptivity and the unexpected joys of teaching in rural Africa.
The corporate team of physicians, nurses, medical assistants, radiology technicians and administrators returned to Tanzania with group leader Dr. Jo Beltre. Their goal: To share their skills and personal experience in diverse ways with families in Global Volunteers’ Reaching Children’s Potential Program (RCP). As the RCP Mental Wellness Initiative has expanded, the Convenient MD volunteers were eager to contribute to significant new mental health projects.
Beltre is a leader in Global Health, and acts as the Director of Global Health and International Outreach at Convenient MD. As such, she has led multiple teams on medical mission trips around the world. This was her second service program with Global Volunteers. She also is a Helping Babies Breathe certified instructor and has taught the course in several countries to teams of doctors, nurses, and community health care workers.
“What was really interesting for me this year is a lot of changes,” said Beltre. “I’ve heard more from the volunteers this year that in the home visits, everybody was doing well – which is for me, is quite exceptional – to in just one year, see the progress that the program has made. And, helping my team find a way in that they can feel like they make a difference in just a week is fantastic.”
“Our Struggles Are Very Similar”
“I’ve just had the best time here,” reported nurse volunteer Brittany Berg. “Ever since I got here, we have been doing home visits where a lot of the moms have been sharing really personal and heavy things with us about, you know, gender-based violence, depression, anxiety.”
Before joining the urgent care staff at Convenient MD, Berg worked as a psychological nurse at Elliott Hospital in Manchester, NH. She notes the emotions, pain and struggles she treated there is the same she sees in Global Volunteers’ partner villages. “It just goes to show that mental health knows no boundaries. It is very similar country to country, place to place, person to person. Just because we are all from different cultures does not mean we don’t experience the same things,” she asserts. “It’s really beautiful and interesting to see that our struggles are very similar.”
Diana McWilliam, Convenient MD Medical Receptionist, said this universality of the human experience and her “obsession” with the National Geographic show Safari Live drew her to serve in Tanzania.
“While I was struggling with depression I would watch that show. Then I got a chance to come here. And it’s even better than I had expected. I feel more useful here than I do even at home. The people are so grateful, and they just keep blessing me – and I just, I feel very welcome in this community,” McWilliam said.
“I feel more useful here than I do even at home.”
– Diana McWilliam, Convenient MD Volunteer
“I was chosen to be part of the Mental Wellness team, so we’ve been talking to people about the different types of mental illness. So I’ve shared my story and I’ve been a big part of the project to address alcohol abuse, McWilliam explained. “I love to help people, and this the ultimate way to do that. Hands-on directly working with people.”
“I’ve been sober for twelve years, and I’ve been sharing my story with other people, and it feels wonderful to help.” McWilliam said she especially appreciated being asked to lead AA (Alcohol Anonymous) meetings – with a staff translator. “I didn’t think that I would be able to help people this much in another country.”
Berg said she was grateful for full-day service projects, such as the workshop she was assigned to present to mothers participating in the RCP Program.
“We discussed what is it? What are the different types of mental illnesses? What are signs and symptoms? How can you treat it? And how can you help each other in the community try to beat it by accessing resources that Global Volunteers provides as well.” Berg said she was grateful for the interest and sincere gratitude the women expressed.
The three women also talked about their mental health presentation at Ukwega Secondary School on the third day of the service program.
“First we talked with the teachers about very basic mental health topics and answered their questions, and then we spoke with the students, and that was fantastic,” Jo enthused.
“We talked about depression, bipolar, the autism spectrum, alcoholism – which is a huge one – and what to look for if you or your friends need help,” added Diana. We explained how to share what they know if someone is struggling.” Above all, she said, “Just don’t stay silent. Ask for help.”
Berg noted she initially questioned whether the nearly all-male faculty would be open to messaging from three women. “But, I couldn’t believe how open the men were to learning… and to help the children learn about mental health. They truly understand that if they build those trusting relationships with the students, they will be able to help them in ways that they don’t even understand yet.”
McWilliam agreed, saying, “The school actually welcomed us because we work on the local level, so … we can help the children before they become adults, and they can learn while they’re growing.”
Jo emphasized: “Yes, I hope our conversation (helps) the teachers to feel empowered to recognize some of these issues that may be going on in their students – so they see (themselves) as the first line many times in identifying the children who are struggling and, and can get those children then to the help they need.” Reflecting, on plans to return next year, she added: “I hope they’re going to be asking more questions and, you know, feeling more engaged with the process – and maybe even have some cases to talk to us about.”
“Please do it…don’t even hesitate.”
– Brittany Berg, Convenient MD Volunteer
Does they recommend a short-term volunteer program in Tanzania to other service-minded groups? Berg responds breathlessly, ” Oh my God, do it; absolutely do it. Please do it…don’t even hesitate.”
“Do it, do it, do it, do it,” McWilliam adds with striking conviction, continuing: “I came here even though I’m afraid to fly. I’ve never been to Hawaii because I’m too afraid to fly. But I came to Africa because I have a purpose here.”
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