The District Secretary and the officials from the District Secretariat, Nuwara Eliya, visited the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Lab – AHAM established under the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with USAID/SCORE project on 17.02.2024. This visit was aimed at establishing an MHPSS center in the Nuwara Eliya District. The visit aimed to familiarize the officials with the facilities and resources available at the lab, demonstrate the utility of psychology tools, discuss counselling procedures, and gather feedback for future collaboration.

Key Activities:

1. Introduction to MHPSS Lab – AHAM: The visit commenced with an introduction to the Project and the MHPSS Lab – AHAM by the Dean of the Faculty of Arts. Prof.S.Raguram. The Head of the Department of Philosophy provided an overview of the lab’s objectives, activities, and its role in promoting mental health and psychosocial support in the community.
2. Demonstration of Psychology Tools: Psychology students demonstrated various psychology tools and techniques used for assessment, intervention, and research purposes. They showcased the utility of tools such as psychological assessments, psychoeducational materials, and therapeutic interventions.
3. Discussion on Counselling Procedure: Mrs. S. Ravichandran, counsellor from the MHPSS Lab led a session discussing the counseling procedure followed at the center. The counsellor elaborated on the intake process, assessment procedures, formulation of treatment plans, and therapeutic interventions used to address mental health concerns.
4. Feedback Session: Following the demonstrations and discussions, a feedback session was conducted to gather inputs from the District Secretary and officials. They were invited to share their thoughts, suggestions, and expectations regarding the establishment of an MHPSS center in the Nuwara Eliya District.

As a token of appreciation for their visit and collaboration, the Department of Philosophy handed over a memento to the District Secretary and officials. The memento symbolized the partnership and commitment towards promoting mental health and well-being in the community.

The visit of the District Secretary and officials to the MHPSS Lab – AHAM, Department of Philosophy, was a constructive step towards establishing an MHPSS center in the Nuwara Eliya District. The exchange of knowledge, demonstrations of psychology tools, discussions on counselling procedures, and feedback session laid the groundwork for future collaboration and initiatives aimed at promoting mental health and psychosocial support in the community.