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Consumer Action Network Mental Health Lanka

Consumer Action Network Mental Health Lanka (CAN MH Lanka) is a consumer-led non-profit organization, registered under the companies act no 07 of 2007, working for a right-protected, nurturing community for the people with psycho-social disabilities in Sri Lanka.

Our Objectives

Empowement

People with mental health problems continue to be at risk of social exclusion and discrimination in all facets of life. We empower them by developing their capacity to choose, influence, and control to exercise over events in their lives and try our best to remove formal or informal barriers, including power relations between individuals, communities, services and governments.

Our Objectives

Advocacy

Reducing stigma and discrimination against people with mental health problems and promoting human rights needs much courage and support. We conduct various actions to change the significant structural and attitudinal barriers to achieving positive mental health outcomes in our populations. We hope, together, we can change how the world views mental health.

Our Objectives

CAPACITY BUILDING

Mental Health is everyone's business. But most of us don't know what mental health is. We work closely with health and non-health stakeholders for sustainable academic relationships to educate our communities on mental health policy and practice. We encourage and support mental health research, community engagement and experience sharing among mental health academics.

Our Objectives

MENTAL HEALTH PROMOTION

There is no health without mental health. It is necessary to improve the overall mental health and wellbeing of every individual. We work on strengthening the policy environment and strategic communication for network building, stakeholder engagement, enhanced mental health literacy, and behaviour change for mental health promotion in the settings where people live, work, learn and thrive.

CURRENT ACTIVITIES

THE BUTTERFLY PROJECT

The butterfly is a symbolic expression of mind. A butterfly represents the beauty and uniqueness of each of our minds, but just like the butterfly, no two minds are identical, and all are unique. We encourage every Sri Lankan to display and wear a butterfly proudly to help raise awareness about mental health issues.

SPEAK YOUR MIND CAMPAIGN

Speak Your Mind is a global citizen-led campaign platform with one collective purpose - progress for mental health in every nation.
People from 19 countries worldwide, including Sri Lanka, have come together pledging to secure meaningful and urgent action from their governments, demanding they invest in mental health.

Technical Working Group for Disability Inclusive Elections

The Technical Working Group for Disability Inclusive Elections in Sri Lanka (DIESL-TWG) is a collective of cross-disability movements to ensure political participation of persons with disabilities in Sri Lanka.

CAPACITY BUILDING AND NETWORKING

Many people aren’t exposed to mental health issues until they are directly impacted by a tragedy such as suicide. But Mental health problems require multiple local stakeholders to work in concert. Collective community engagement can overcome the barriers to mental health promotion and prevention.

MOVE TOGETHER

The COVID 19 pandemic has affected lives, families, and communities globally, and the mental health impact of the pandemic is expected to be huge. The economic downturn, social distancing measures, unemployment and uncertainty increase the mental health burden at the individual and community level.

The secretary-general of the United Nations mentioned the need for urgent action to address the mental health needs in the post-COVID-19 period to reduce the long-term effects of the pandemic.

In the Sri Lankan context, there are limited studies done to see the mental health effects of COVID-19, but it is expected to increase mental health problems, substance abuse, and suicides following the pandemic. Therefore, it is essential to take collective action to address the mental health needs in the post-COVID-19 atmosphere around the country.

We invite policymakers, state officials, professionals, the corporate sector, educators, law enforcement authorities, community organizations and the general public to join hands to ensure everyone everywhere has someone to turn to when their mental health is in crisis.

MENTAL HEALTH IS...

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being.

It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices.

Mental health is essential at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.

WHAT IF....?

If you experience mental health problems throughout your life, your thinking, mood, and behaviour could be affected.
Mental health problems are common, but help is available. People with mental health problems can get better, and many recover completely.

IF YOU NEED HELP...

If you or your loved ones are in a mental health crisis, please dial 1926 for emergency mental health assistance throughout the day and night. 1926 chat service is available during working hours.
If you feel like being seen by a doctor, contact the mental health service of your nearest hospital. 1990 ambulance service provide support for emergency hospitalisation of persons with mental health problems in a crisis.
Keep the contact details of your nearest mental health professional, psychiatrist, psychologist, counsellor, or social worker in case of an emergency.

GET IN TOUCH

AN APPEAL FOR URGENT SUPPORT

We are in the midst of the worst economic crisis in the history of 70 years. Sri Lanka has run out of dollars to procure vital food and fuel imports, triggering weeks of demonstrations demanding the government step down. But it is, in the health sector, the consequences of the crisis are most visceral. Prices of commonly used medication have sharply increased twice in six weeks. Antibiotics, certain painkillers, and medicines for heart conditions are among those hit by a 40% mark-up. The hospitals and chemist stores across the country are running out of essential drugs, even to buy for a high price. Health department appeals for help have brought in donations from individuals and organisations.

The people living with mental health conditions are also affected by this situation. Mental health clinics don’t have essential medicine for weeks. Some of those are available in the private sector, but most people living with such conditions cannot afford to buy those from chemist stores.

The Directorate of Mental Health of the Government of Sri Lanka has issued a list of 16 essential medications required immediately. The government has agreed to receive donations directly, and CAN MH Lanka is happy to coordinate assistance in order to speed up the receipt of these vital drugs. CAN MH Lanka would appeal to our international friends to help us obtain these required drugs soon as psychiatric drugs are not being prioritised over life-saving medications in most cases.

To learn more, contact us via contact@canmhlanka.org.lk.

WANT TO JOIN OUR VOLUNTEER TEAM?

We invite university undergraduates and freshly qualified mental health professionals interested in contributing a social change to ensure everyone everywhere has someone to turn to their mental health in crisis to join our volunteer network.
The volunteer positions are unpaid and for a minimum period of 12 months from the date of appointment. Volunteers are provided with training and development opportunities and offered a certificate upon completion of the internship.
The undergraduates who should complete an internship as a part of their study are also welcome. Priority is given to Psychology, Social Sciences, Occupational Therapy and Counseling undergraduates.

APPLICATION FORM