Portfolio

Overview

The Mental Health Unit at Teaching Hospital,Badulla is the premier tertiary mental health facility in the province, offering comprehensive and specialized psychiatric care for individuals experiencing mental health challenges. With 56 beds—28 beds dedicated to female patients and 28 beds dedicated to male patients, we provide a secure, compassionate environment for inpatient care. Our unit offers a wide services, including inpatient care, outpatient treatment, and liaison psychiatry services, child mental health services ,ECT and specialized pschotherapies. We are deeply committed to supporting the community’s mental health by delivering high-quality care, mental health education, and promoting mental well-being across the region.

Key Features of Our Specialized Care:

• Comprehensive Psychiatric Evaluation: Our experienced consultant psychiatrists conduct thorough evaluations to understand the severity and nature of the patient’s condition.
• Personalized Treatment Plans: Each patient receives an individualized care plan, designed to meet their specific needs, preferences, and goals.
• Ongoing Monitoring and Support: We provide continuous follow-up and monitoring to assess treatment progress and make necessary adjustments, promoting the best possible outcomes.
• Evidence-Based Therapies: We implement the latest, proven therapies, including pharmacological treatments, psychotherapy, and specialized interventions like ECT and ketamine therapy.
• Multidisciplinary Team Approach: Care is provided by a dedicated team of professionals from diverse fields, led by our consultant psychiatrists, to ensure holistic and well-rounded treatment.

Consultant Psychiatrists

Our team is led by two experienced consultant psychiatrists, who provide expert care and oversight in the management of mental health conditions:

• Dr.K.H.Walgama (MBBS, MSc in Clinical Psychology, MD Psychiatry)
• Dr. Danoja Wijesinghe (MBBS, MD Psychiatry)

The two consultants supervise the team, guide medical training, and ensure the implementation of evidence-based practices in all aspects of psychiatric care.

Multidisciplinary Team Approach

At the heart of our care model is a multidisciplinary team, led by our consultant psychiatrists. This collaborative approach ensures comprehensive treatment for patients, addressing both their mental and physical health needs. The team consists of:

• Mental Health Nursing Officers: These professionals provide 24/7 nursing care and support to patients, assisting in daily activities, monitoring progress, and administering treatments.
• Psychiatric Social Workers: They offer counseling, assist with social rehabilitation, and provide support to patients and families navigating the complexities of mental health conditions.
• Counselors: Our counselors provide psychotherapy and support, helping patients work through emotional and psychological issues in a safe, therapeutic environment.
• Occupational Therapists: They work with patients to improve their daily living skills, helping them regain independence and functionality in everyday activities.
• Speech Therapists: Our speech therapists assist patients with communication and swallowing difficulties, providing therapy to enhance speech clarity and comprehension.
• Health Assistants

This collaborative, team-based approach allows us to offer the most comprehensive and effective care possible, ensuring all aspects of our patients’ needs are met.

Liaison Psychiatry Service

In addition to the core services provided by the Mental Health Unit, we also offer a Liaison Psychiatry Service, which plays a critical role in supporting the mental health needs of patients across the hospital.

Our Liaison Psychiatry Service provides psychiatric consultations and interventions for patients admitted to other specialties within the hospital, including the Emergency Medicine Department and various other medical and surgical departments. This service helps ensure that individuals with mental health issues, often presenting with co-occurring physical health conditions, receive timely and appropriate psychiatric support.

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

For patients with severe psychiatric disorders that do not respond to conventional treatments, we offer Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT). This safe, effective treatment is administered under the supervision of our expert consultants.

Ketamine Treatment

Ketamine therapy is offered as a specialized treatment for individuals with treatment-resistant depression and other complex mental health conditions. This therapy is closely monitored to ensure safety and effectiveness.

Outpatient Services

We offer regular outpatient services to individuals with a variety of mental health conditions. Patients can access ongoing psychiatric care and treatment tailored to their specific needs.

Psychotherapy and counselling

The unit provided evidenced based psychotherapies for a range of mental health presentations.There is individual counselling and group therapies for alcohol and substance use disorders.

Weekly Clinics

• Adult Psychiatry Clinic: Held twice a week, these clinics provide psychiatric assessments and management for adult patients with a range of mental health issues.
• Child Psychiatry Clinic: Every Saturday, we hold a specialized clinic focused on the mental health care of children and adolescents.

Training and Education

The Mental Health Unit is actively involved in the training of future mental health professionals. We provide educational opportunities for:

• Mental Health Doctors: We train doctors specializing in psychiatry, ensuring they gain the necessary skills and expertise to provide high-quality care.
• Postgraduate Trainees: Our unit supervises and mentors postgraduate trainees, providing hands-on training in clinical psychiatry.
• Nurses and Allied Health Professionals: We offer training programs for nurses and allied health staff, enhancing their ability to support patients with mental health conditions.

Outreach Clinics

In addition to our core services, the Mental Health Unit runs outreach clinics in remote areas. These clinics are supervised by our consultant psychiatrists and offer essential psychiatric care to underserved communities.

Mental Health Promotion

Our unit is committed to raising awareness about mental health through public campaigns and community engagement activities. We aim to reduce stigma, promote early intervention, and increase understanding of mental health conditions in the wider community.

Peer Review and Professional Development

The Mental Health Unit conducts regular peer review sessions for consultants and trainees. These sessions provide an opportunity to discuss challenging cases, share knowledge, and ensure that care provided is of the highest standard.

Research

The unit also conducts Audti and Research in relation to mental health and mental illnesses

24-Hour Mental Health Helpline

We operate a 24-hour toll-free mental health helpline (1926), available to provide immediate support and guidance for individuals facing mental health crises or seeking advice.