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Contact Details

Phone
+64 3 479 4377
Email
shyamala.nada-raja@otago.ac.nz
Position
Senior Research Fellow
Qualifications
BSc PGDipSci(Credit) MSc(Dist) PhD(Otago)
Research summary
Wellbeing; mental health; violence prevention
Teaching
Undergraduate and postgraduate guest lectures on the epidemiology of self-harm and suicide and the application of web-based interventions to address mental health and self-harm.
Clinical
Application of web-based interventions for mental health in primary care and small community clinical settings.

Research

  • Determinants of mental health and wellbeing in youth, including college students
  • Epidemiology of self-harm/suicide/violence
  • Web-based interventions for mental health and wellbeing

Additional details

Dr Shyamala Nada-Raja has been employed as an academic staff member with the University since 1987. Most of her research positions and that of her team have been funded through externally competitive grants that she has secured from institutions such as the Health Research Council, Accident Compensation Corporation, and Lottery Health. Her research background is in areas of mental health epidemiology, Violence and suicide prevention, eHealth interventions and youth and wellbeing.

Currently Dr Nada-Raja is working on a Pacific Students’ mental health and wellbeing research programme.

Dr Shyamala Nada-Raja is of Sri Lankan descent.

Publications

Sopoaga, F., Nada-Raja, S., & Lameta, M. (2025). Tertiary institution's duty of care for the health and well-being of Pacific students during COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional survey. Journal of Primary Health Care, 17(1), 17-22. doi: 10.1071/HC24039 Journal - Research Article

Stewart, C., Bennett-Fakahau, I., Nada-Raja, S., & Stewart, K. (2025). Exploring the relationship between trout fishing and wellbeing: Insights from Aotearoa New Zealand trout anglers. Kōtuitui, 20(1), 98-115. doi: 10.1080/1177083X.2024.2347409 Journal - Research Article

Sopoaga, L., Nada-Raja, S., Colhoun, S., Leckie, T., & Sopoaga, F. (2024). First-year Pacific students' perception of their well-being journey at university in Aotearoa New Zealand. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 12(11), 756-779. doi: 10.4236/jss.2024.1211051 Journal - Research Article

Sopoaga, F., Nada-Raja, S., & Wilkinson, T. (2024). Folauga: A model to support the retention and success of Pacific students in higher education in Aotearoa New Zealand. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 12, 278-301. doi: 10.4236/jss.2024.128018 Journal - Research Article

McAnally, H. M., Wiki Te Oi, A., Nada-Raja, S., & Hancox, R. J. (2024). The longitudinal association of childhood and adolescent television viewing with substance use disorders and disordered gambling in adulthood up to age 45. International Journal of Mental Health & Addiction, 22, 1116-1127. doi: 10.1007/s11469-022-00918-7 Journal - Research Article

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