ISSUP Sri Lanka is hosted by a Consortium formed between The Sumithrayo Drug Demand Reduction Program (Mel Medura) and Samutthãna, The King’s College London Resource Centre for Trauma, Displacement and Mental Health. The two organisations signed a MoU specially to work together to apply for the ISSUP National Chapter and is delighted to be awarded the privilege. The consortium will work closely with the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board (NDDCB) of Sri Lanka in planning and implementing its activities.
The Sumithrayo Drug Demand Reduction Program (Mel Medura), has been in the forefront of prevention and recovery since 1984. The unit provides assistance to those who are experiencing difficulties arising from Substance Use Disorders (SUDs), including alcohol, and Non Substance or behavioral addictions. Our holistic evidence based approach ensures that healing extends beyond our clients to their loved ones, fostering an environment of family support through maintenance and recovery. Through community interactions in the street, awareness campaigns, and educational workshops, we have reached thousands, to break down the stigma associated with addiction while promoting a message of hope and recovery. Our dedicated team of staff, volunteers and interns work tirelessly to ensure that those in need know that help is available and recovery is possible. Our training programs, where we disseminate information on addiction science and evidence-based practices have equipped medical students, social workers, and community leaders with the knowledge and skills needed to address this pressing public health issue. Our message has always been that recovery is not just a possibility but can be a reality for all who seek it.
Samutthãna, The King’s College London Resource Centre for Trauma, Displacement and Mental Health - is a leader in mental health capacity building in relations to skills training, education and research and was established in 2006 (www.samutthana.org.lk). It is the Sri Lankan arm of the UK-Sri Lanka Trauma Group (UK-SLTG), (www.uksrilankatrauma.org.uk). It is a UK registered charity established in 1996 by a group of expatriate Sri Lankan and British mental health professionals to assist Sri Lanka with the psychological consequences of the civil war that was prevailing in the country at the time. Samutthana defined in Sanskrit as ‘rejuvenation’ commenced its services in 2006 to address the needs felt after the Asian Tsunami hit the country, to focus on capacity building mental health skills, including addictions. It has developed a pragmatic three level model to structure training and skills development to include the needs of volunteers with minimal knowledge and skills, to highly trained professionals for their continuous professional development. Samutthãna was instrumental in developing the first training programme in Clinical Psychology in Sri Lanka, the MPhil program for Clinical Psychology at Colombo University. It has had over 35,000 attendances in its training events and workshops and is a Colombo Plan Approved Training Provider for the Universal Training Curriculum (UTC).
What We Hope to Do:
Knowledge Exchange: We will provide a platform for professionals to share insights, research, and best practices.
Training and Workshops: Join us for workshops, conferences, and training sessions to enhance your skills.
Networking: Connect with like-minded individuals, both locally and internationally.
Advocacy: We advocate for evidence-based policies and programs to address substance use challenges.
Join Us: Whether you’re a researcher, practitioner, or simply interested in making a difference, ISSUP Sri Lanka welcomes you. Let’s work together towards a healthier world!
Thank you for visiting our page. We look forward to engaging with you and working together towards a healthier future for all. Feel free to explore our resources, attend our events, and engage with our community.
For more information, you can visit the ISSUP Sri Lanka contact page.