Sunitha B J

About Sunitha B J

I hold 24 years of working experience in Public Health with intersection of psychosocial and Gender. My expertise expands to Program management, implementation, Mentoring, training, well being intervention with gender lens, well being coach, Advocacy and Research contributor. I have worked in projects funded by Gates Foundations, United Nations, USAID, World Bank, UNFPA. My work has been in HIV prevention, care & support for infected and affected in high risk population of vulnerable population, Tuberculosis (DR and DS TB), Prevention of violence against vulnerable women, Prevention of Gender based violence from Intimate partners, Wellbeing of adolescents’ children in boarding school, Nutritional programme - alleviation of nutrition in state of Karnataka. I have provided technical support on HIV preventive and Care & Support counselling to high-level Sri Lankan’s HIV prevention program personnel and Sri Lankan’s Queer community also in India. I have extended my expertise in writing training manual in TB counselling, capacity building of master trainers in counselling and rolled out counselling training pan Karnataka State’s NTEP staff. This was under the leadership of Dr.Manjula, then STO. This has been the only such counselling training program in the country. I written chapters in training manuals. I have been a contributor on a research study on \'stigma in TB.\' A short stint in working with one of India\'s biggest Medical University RGUHS, as Program Director for a start up NGO working on building capacities on Emergency care and Life Support programs. I have worked closely with State Health and Family welfare, W&C Development, KSAPS, NACO, Police Training Academy, Karnataka Judicial Academy. In my personal space, I provide counseling to students, people facing workplace sexual harassment, people with childhood trauma, PTSD, couples facing domestic issues, psychosocial counselling to people and their families who are diagnosed with health issues, men and their families who have been victimized by Section 498A, counselling support to sexual minorities and suicide prevention. I have been a recipient of the \"International Women\'s Day Award 2019 by Garden City University, Bangalore and Rex Karamveer Global Fellow 2019 and Karamveer Chakra Award 2019 instituted by #iCONGO in partnership with the UNITED NATIONS. I have received my master’s in sociology from Karnataka University, Certified Diploma in Counselling from Banjara Academy, I am certified CBT & Queer Affirmative Counselling Practitioner (QACP) from Mariwala Health Initiative.

Experience

1. State Project Team Lead - Covid Mental Health

   Khpt

   Jul 2021 — Present · Bangalore Urban, IN

   Acceptance\' is precious and this is what COVID- 19 the invisible virus to the naked eye has done. COVID has paved a bridge or platform for many to accept and ask/seek help to better their life. Challenges are part of life and many are resilient to face up, however few need help to listen to them empathically, build their inner strength( resilience). This is what COVID-19 has done, opened floors to help, support, build people from brokenness of life\'s multiple challenges. My current work has also given path way to mentor and guide budding psychologists and work closely with State\'s National Health Mission, District and Taluka Mental Health Service, DD Mental Health, State Health and Family welfare, NIMHANS, BBMP health officials, District Health Officers and District TB officers.

Education

• Mariwala Health Initiative, Mumbai

  Certified Queer Affirmative Counsellor

  2019 — 2019

• Mysore University

  MA, PG Dip in Counseling

  1998 — 2000