About us

Well-Being Centre - JMFOA Australia - AHAM [USAID Project]

Introduction

Being affected by the Civil war for three decade, the university community especially students are in need of psycho-social counseling and at recent times many cases are reported from all the faculties. The counseling was identified as a main theme during 2007-2010, and  a group of academics were trained under the leadership of Prof.Rachel Tribe, School of Psychology, College of Applied Health and Communities, University of East London, Stratford campus Water Lane, London E15 4LZ. University of Jaffna is pleased to acknowledge the continuous support given by Prof. Rachel and who visited several times on her own and trained our people on Counseling. 

A linked-services approach addressing the special needs of the Jaffna University Community enables both the integration of existing structures and the expansion into new activities. As a first stage Well Being Centres are established in Jaffna, and Sub-Centers at Kilinochchi and Vavuniya where students and staff can drop in for counseling, discussion, advice, information, as well as informal and leisure activities. A multi-purpose approach also serves to de-stigmatize the counselling functions of the center, since it exists alongside other leisure and voluntary activities which do not need to be scheduled and can occur on a “drop-in” basis, also increasing its accessibility. The need for the origination of this centre is based on the idea of Prof. Daya Somasundaram. 

The Well-Being Centre comes under the direct administration of the Vice-Chancellor and Director/Deputy Directors will be responsible to the Jaffna, Kilinochchi and Vavuniya centres, respectively and the Assistant Registrar/Welfare is administratively coordinating all the activities. The Well-being Centre has representations from each faculty/units, academic, non-academic staff, Representatives from Psychiatrists and Psychologists, students, Senior Student Counselor/Student Counselors and Representations from JMFOA Australia are also available in coordinating the activities. 

A governing board comprising of representatives from the faculty, student and staff unions, mental health professionals & Counsellor(s) meets regularly to oversee the functioning of the Centre. Student Counselors/Councilors are also represented in this board. 

A Director (Part-time) to the main Center and Deputy Directors (Part-time) for Kilinochchi & Vavuniya will be appointed for Coordinating and administrative purpose and a Counselor in-Charge will be appointed on full time basis to facilitate the activities of the Centers.