Silently Unlocking Student Potential: Mental Health Services at SLIIT
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It’s no secret that life in university is full of first-time experiences. Add the pressures of growing- up into the mix and you find that students, specifically at undergraduate levels, face one of the biggest adjustment periods of their lives. For the past 7 years and counting students at SLIIT have access to mental health support to ease this transition.
The Times Higher Education University Rankings for 2026, places SLIIT among the leading 3 education institutions in Sri Lanka. Academic excellence is an expectation students are met with from the moment they walk in. Facing this expectation freshly after Advanced Level Examinations is an unnerving experience.
“The A/Level system is markedly different” says Harithra Chandrasehar, Clinical Psychologist and Team Lead at the Helping Hands Counseling and Wellbeing Unit at SLIIT UNI. Moving from exam-focused A/Level learning to self-study and independent learning where students are geared for employment is a steep change. This is why all students enrolled at SLIIT have access to mental health services free of charge.
Meeting academic expectations is only one part of the transition. Immersed in a 25,000 strong student body, new students are also experiencing other social changes in life. Making new friend groups, meeting people from all parts of Sri Lanka, moving away from home into hostels- changes that can be disorienting for most adults. Harithra works alongside a team of clinical psychologists who have varied areas of experience. “We deal with a wide range of concerns” she shares, “from relationships, familial issues, to other common mental health issues.”
Although psychological support is an essential part of wellbeing, for most students it is a new experience. Heavy stigma and poor access to mental health services in Sri Lanka result in cases where some students have carried the burden of mental unrest for a long time. For instance, prolonged symptoms of depression and anxiety significantly affect a student’s ability to perform at their full potential.
Keen to optimize their untapped potential, the team of mental health professionals work on building students’ mental resilience and expanding their capacities. Usually, the bookings fill up fast, depending on the need of the day. From dealing with exam related anxiety to support with diagnosing deeper issues- help at SLIIT is available in all Sinhala, Tamil, and English. Students can access these services throughout the week by booking online for in-person or virtual sessions.
The Helping Hands Counseling and Wellbeing Unit operates like any other mental health service provider. When needed, SLIIT’s in-house medical officer steps in with medical care, or to make specialist referrals. “All sessions are strictly confidential” Harithra assures, their work is bound by ethics, policies and industry standards.
Despite being a small unit nestled in a private, quiet corner of the campus, their impact is felt across campus. As a part of the Student Services Department, the Helping Hands Counseling and Wellbeing Unit actively promotes mental health through workshops and activities for staff and students. They are a standard feature of student orientations ensuring that enrolling students know that help is always close.
At SLIIT UNI, each student is valued for their unique capabilities and their potential for excellence. Counsellors have supported students to advocate for themselves, work around complex relationship dynamics, and achieve mental clarity to excel in their coursework. Silently, the Helping Hands Counseling and Wellbeing Unit plays a vital role in unlocking potential and keeping our culture of learning vibrant.
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