Mental health and substance abuse internship is offered once a semester in the learning environment of the Savonia Wellness Center. Four to six students from the Nursing degree programme and one to two exchange students are eligible for the internship. During the internship, students will carry out mental health promotion activities in a group format for international student groups from Savonia and Savo Vocational College. You can read about the background and implementation of the Wellness Center’s Mental health internship from the coordinator’s and teachers’ perspective in “Mielen hyvinvointia maahanmuuttajille Savonia Wellness Centeriltä”.
Wellness Center student Elisabetta descriped about her experience of a new kind of internship as part of her exchange studies at Savonia. During the internship, students gained experience in teamwork and the use of creative methods as part of group-based mental wellbeing support.
Unconventional settings and functional methos
Internship took place in a rather unconventional setting—not in a hospital, but at the Wellness Center of Savonia University. The overarching goal of the internship was to promote well-being and initiate conversations about the importance of mental health with the customers. Age of the customers varied from teens to adults. Not an easy task for the students and understandably posed some challenges in the beginning.
Overall, navigating these diverse groups and tailoring our approach to address their specific needs was both challenging and rewarding. It provided valuable insights into the importance of cultural sensitivity and individualized support in promoting mental health and well-being.
To overcome the language barrier students turned to various apps and websites and functional methods. Students gained a profound appreciation for the importance of functional methods. They are a holistic approach to mental well-being within the context of functional medicine encompasses various lifestyle changes, therapeutic interventions, and mindfulness practices that aim to address the root causes of symptoms and promote overall well-being. One example is drawing and it can be used descriping what persons feelings are. This exercise not only allowes for creative expression but also provided a platform for sharing personal narratives and fostering a sense of cultural identity and belonging.
During a session with the one of the groups, a remarkable moment unfolded when a woman chose to express the current events in Ukraine through her artwork. With skilled precision, she depicted a scene of devastation: a building under siege, engulfed in flames, crumbling under the impact of bombs. Every detail was meticulously rendered, from the fiery inferno consuming the roof to the haunting traces of blood-stained handprints on the walls. Even the floor was marked by bloodstained footprints. This drawing not only showcased the women’s artistic talent but also served as a powerful testament to the emotional depth and impact of the events she depicted. Through her art, she gave voice to the collective grief and turmoil experienced by her homeland, illustrating the profound connection between artistic expression and the processing of complex emotions.
Other methods used were yoga, green therapy, dancing and music and vision boards.
Creating a trusting relationship
Speaking about emotions and feelings with an unknown person is difficult. From the first week, students recognized the importance of building a trusting relationship with the clients.
But how could we achieve this relationship? We decided to start by sharing about ourselves in a professional manner. While we didn’t delve deeply into our personal lives, we talked about our backgrounds and where we come from—Bangladesh, Kenya, and Italy.
Students shared stories about our typical foods, cultural habits, and even laughed together about the differences and similarities we found amusing. This approach made it significantly easier to establish a connection and build trust with clients than students even initially expected. By opening up and creating a welcoming atmosphere, they facilitated a space where clients felt more comfortable expressing their own emotions and feelings.
Communication is the soul of teamwork
Team held numerous brainstorming sessions to determine the best options for the diverse customer groups. This approach allowed the team to tailor activities specifically for teenagers or adults, depending on what was most effective.
We learned the value of clear communication and the necessity of being punctual out of respect for our team members. Dividing tasks and ensuring that everyone had a specific role was essential for our efficiency and success. This structure enabled us to leverage each member’s strengths and maintain a well-organized workflow. Overall, our experience highlighted that effective teamwork requires collaboration, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to our common goals.
Students said they were reminded of the profound impact teamwork has had on their experiences and achievements during internship. Navigating diverse ideas to crafting tailored solutions, collaboration, communication and mutual respect have been our guiding principles.
Salla Lommi, service coordinator Wellness Center, salla.lommi@savonia.fi
