A workshop titled “Mental Health and How to Maintain It” was successfully held on 30th November 2025, from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, at SH4 and SH3 Halls for Tamil- and Sinhala-speaking students of the University of Vavuniya. The programme was organized by the Support Centre for Persons with Disabilities (SCPD) with the objective of enhancing students’ understanding of mental health and equipping them with practical strategies to sustain emotional well-being amidst academic and personal challenges.
The event commenced with a welcome address delivered by Mrs. V. Kajanthy, Director of SCPD, who highlighted the growing importance of mental health awareness within higher education settings. She emphasized that maintaining mental well-being is essential not only for academic success, but also for fostering a healthy, supportive, and productive university environment.
The workshop sessions were facilitated by two distinguished medical professionals: Dr. S. Suthakaran, Senior Medical Officer, District General Hospital, Vavuniya (Tamil session), and Dr. N. S. Dharmadasa, Medical Officer (Mental Health), District General Hospital, Vavuniya (Sinhala session). Both sessions covered key themes such as stress management, emotional resilience, early identification of mental health concerns, and the importance of seeking support when needed.
A total of 185 students participated in the programme. The workshop was highly interactive, with students actively engaging in discussions, sharing personal insights, and asking questions related to real-life challenges they encounter in university life.
The SCPD plans to organize similar programmes in the future to further strengthen the mental health support network within the University, ensuring that students continue to receive guidance, encouragement, and resources to maintain positive mental well-being throughout their academic journey.
