RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

Below are several Past Projects, Activities, Speakers facilitated by Dr. Thulitha

South Asia Youth Substance Use Survey, 2024

A multi country profile of substance use, influencing factors, and coping strategies among youth. Sri Lanka, India, Maldives, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan, and Indian Ocean territories will be surveyed. This youth lead initiative working in collaboration with senior researchers in the field of psychology, will discover upto date knolwedge on substance use in South Asia. This study will contribute to prevention and intervention programs directed at combatting the growing prevalence in use of alcohol, tobacco, cannibus, vaping, pharmaceuticals, designer drugs, and other drugs.

Vienna, Austria, 2023 UNODC Constructive Dialogue on Technical Assistance

Researchers and Directors from the institute participated in the Vienna, Austria UNODC stake holder conference on drugs. Participating officers discussed the prevention, intervention, and education activities taken part by the institute. Information from the discussion and the institute's initiatives were detailed in the newsletter of ISSUP, the International Society for Substance Use Professionals. https://www.issup.net/knowledge-share/resources/2023-06/center-global-health-sri-lanka-participates-unodc-constructive

Kathmandu, Nepal, 2015 Psychology Conference on Emotions

Faculty members participated in the conference on emotions and mental heatlh held in Kathmandu, Nepal to present a research paper on trauma and health. The paper won the best research award. https://www.worldwithoutanger.org/

Dhaka, Bangladesh, 2014 Clinical Psychology Conference

Students and faculty collaborating to participate in the Clinical Psychology Conference, Dhaka, Bangladesh. The presentation was on trauma affected women and mental health. The presentation won the best paper award. In the picture are Lakmal Ponnamperuma, Senior Clinical Psychologist, and Winoth Ilangka (current MSc student).

The Institute's Conference 1, 2018 Theme: Stake Holder Discussion of Dengue Prevention

Students and professionals from several tertiary educational institutions partiticpated in the organization, discussion, and presentations at a stake holder conference on degue organized by the institution, held at the Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research Institute. Chief Guest and Convenor was Professor Hiran Dias, past President of The University of Colombo, W.M. Leelasena, Economist and retired Senior Civil Servant, K.A.S. Wickrama, professor and SLAS Retired, Dr. Sukunana Gunasingam, Head of Health Administration, Eastern province, and the Representative for Community Health, Ministry of Health, and multiple officers of NHRDC, Ministry of Youth Affairs, and research project members, Sivaguru Thanigaseelan, Saranya Sathiyavasan.

Institute's Conference 2, 2023 Theme: Psychosocial and Cultural Coping Strategies for Mental Health and Substance Use Prevention and Treatment

Experts in the field of drug treatment, prevention, and educaiton spoke at the conference that was instrumental with student leadership. Key speakers at the event were Dr. K.A. Lalithadheera, Sivaguru Thanigaseelan, Dr. CA Saliya, Dr Thomas Scaria, Naren Selvaratnam, Vindhya Warakagoda, Ishani Kariyawasam, Ali Jinnah, and the convener Dr. Thulitha. The conference was attended by tertiary education students, government officers, and university professors. Students gained valuable presentaiton and organization experience as well as event management and administration. https://www.issup.net/knowledge-share/resources/2023-06/psychosocial-and-cultural-coping-strategies-mental-health-and

Collaborative Research Projects with the Government of Sri Lanka

In collaboration with government bodies through PPPP-Memorandoms of Understanding, students have gained valuable exposure and experience in multiple research projects, assessments, psycho-social interventions, data analysis and report writing, national newsletter, project reports and policy recommendation development.

Mental Health Assessment and Intervention in Post Disaster Areas of Sri Lanka, 2013, 2014

Conducting baseline assessments of multiple villages on mental health, social, economic, educational, training, employment, and other needs. Understanding mental illness, developing interventions, and administering these and conducting multiple followup assessment of the participating indivudals, under the supervision and triaing of clinical and counseling psychologists and psychiatrists.

Collaborative Research with International Universities (US) Disaster Affected Tamil Widows, Eastern Sri Lanka 2016,2013

Studied PTSS and depression among disaster-affected Tamil widows in Eastern SriLanka with a model based on COR theory and previous research. We hypothesized that greater exposure to traumatic events and more contextual problems would be associated with higher levels of depression and PTSS. We also sought to determine if PTCs about the self, sense of community, and physical health status would explain variation in depression and PTSS. We hypothesized that a more negative view of self and poorer heath would be associated with higher symptoms, whereas a stronger sense of community would be associated with lower symptoms. Lastly, wepredicted that exposure to PTEs and contextual problems would be associated with indicators of psychological distress (PTSS and depression) directly and indirectly through PTCs, sense of community, and health status.

Poster and Paper Prensentations at Conferences

Students and faculty at the institute have opportunities to present their research at conferences that take place there and at other educational institutions and professional associations both nationally and internationally. These knowledge sharing activities allow for enhancement of the work, exchange of ideas and findings, discussion of further study and improvments to the current work, and engagement in ways to apply findings to interventions.

Development of Journals, 2023

The institute and its researchers have participated in the development of international organization and government endoresed research and practive focused journals. The Journal of Development Insights, is an Australia government endorsed activity of the Sri Lanka-Australia Trained Alumni Association journal aimed at updating the progress of ongoing, future, and past projects participated by the scholarship participants. In the photo are Sivaguru Thanigaseelan, President of the Australia Awards Alumni Association 2023, and the Honorable High Commissioner of Australia to Sri Lanka.

Policy Research and Discussion, 2023

The institute research officers participated in the development of policy suggestions to consider in formulating future development activities by the government. Multiple ministry secretaries and senior officers, including representatives of the prime minister's office, women entrepremuers and academics participated. in the discussion and policy proposal document.

Internship Opportunities

Students have an opportunity to participate in internships that are supervised by clinical, counseling, and research experts. The internships provide valuable work experience that will lead to poster and paper presentations at conferences, publications, and a step into graduate school and employment. The internships have been at diverse and important organizations such as government institutions, international organizations, national and international university projects, and the institution's own research and intervention projects. Supervised counseling and research internships cost a monthly supervisory fee that varies for undergraduate, postgraduate, and professional categories. This includes cost of research training, counseling training, supervisions, apprentantship, teaching, professional presentations and publications, professional network development, academic and professional career guidance, documentation and administration of the experience.