Asia Program Launch : Sri Lanka
While the acute disaster phase has passed for the Indian Ocean Tsunami, the need for psychological support services for tsunami survivors and their caregivers will continue for years. In June 2005, PsyCorps psychologists, Dr. Glenn Goodwin and Dr. John Thoburn, conducted a Site Assessment Pilot Trip in Sri Lanka to launch PsyCorps’ Asian disaster mental health programs. PsyCorps cultivated relationships with civic, business, religious, and humanitarian groups, and conducted evaluations of:
The outcomes of the site assessment will help shape the development of PsyCorps Sri Lanka operations. PsyCorps will collaborate with local partners to maintain teams, provide clinical support and on-going professional training, and ensure program sustainability and impact. Ultimately, as PsyCorps Sri Lanka continues to be refined, it will be used as a protocol for our model’s global and domestic replication.
PsyCorps founder, Dr. Glenn Goodwin, visits a relief project in Galle
Building Partnerships, Building Hope
We are pleased to announce that several agencies in Sri Lanka have expressed enthusiasm in partnering with us to develop local PsyCorps teams. These volunteer teams will provide critical incident mental health services for survivors and caregivers.
Dr. Glenn Goodwin, Sunil Wijesinghe, and Dr. John Thoburn
Many thanks to Sunil Wijesinghe, our friend from the Colombo West Rotary Club, who made our Sri Lankan connections possible.
Meeting with the Consortium of Humanitarian Agencies’ Psychosocial Coordinator , Chirshara Paranavithana
We are deeply grateful for the generosity of our supporters in helping PsyCorps launch our Asian disaster mental health programs. We invite you to join us in our efforts to bring long-term psychological support to tsunami survivors and relief workers in Sri Lanka. Please see the donate link on our website to see how you can partner in the healing process.
Click here to learn more about our field experience and planned projects in India.
