Sonya Chelvanayagam

Sonya Chelvanayagam

  • u_schelvanayagam at bournemouth dot ac dot uk
  • Senior Lecturer in Mental Health Nursing
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Biography

Sonya Chelvanayagam MSc, RN, PgDip (Learning & Teaching) is a lecturer in mental health nursing at Bournemouth University. She is a registered mental health nurse and adult nurse who has worked in a variety of care services such as HIV and gastroenterology. This has involved Sonya in working with people who experience either physical or mental illnesses or a combination of physical symptoms and mental health problems.

More recently she has worked in a hospice and currently works two days a month in a day hospice in Poole. This clinical experience led her to explore end of life care for people experiencing mental illness which is the topic of her PhD thesis.

Research

Currently studying for a PhD. The topic is the development of an intervention to improve the care of people experiencing mental illness at the end of their life.

Journal Articles

Books

Chapters

  • Whayman, K., Duncan, J., O'Connor, M., Chelvanayagam, S.. Psychosocial Aspects of Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Inflammatory Bowel Disease Nursing. Quay Books.
  • Chelvanayagam, S.. Stigma & Taboos. In: Norton, C., Williams, J., Taylor, C., Nunwa, A., Whayman, K., eds. Textbook of Gastrointestinal Nursing. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Chelvanayagam, S.. Chronic and malignant pain management in gastrointestinal disorders. In: Norton, C., Williams, J., Taylor, C., Nunwa, A., Whayman, K., eds. Oxford Textbook of Gastrointestinal Nursing. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Chelvanayagam, S.. Stigma & Taboos. In: Norton, C., Williams, J., Taylor, C., Nunwa, A., Whayman, K., eds. Oxford Textbook of Gastrointestinal Nursing. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Chelvanayagam, S.. Stigma & Taboos. In: Norton, C., Williams, J., Taylor, C., Nunwa, A., Whayman, K., eds. Oxford Textbook of Gastrointestinal Nursing. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Conferences

  • Chelvanayagam, S., 2021. Eating disorders: practical assessment and impact on the GI system. In: 8th National Gastrointestinal Nursing Virtual Conference 29/01/2021 Online - London.
  • Chelvanayagam, S.. Is there a role for mental health nurses in bariatric services? In: Network for Psychiatric Nurses Research (NPNR) 2015 Manchester.
  • Chelvanayagam, S., Abernethy, K., Norton, C., Pitkin, J.. The prevalence of faecal incontinence in menopausal women. In: International Continence Society 2006 UK. Proceedings of the International Continence Society.
  • Chelvanayagam, S.. Supporting women with faecal incontinence. In: RCN Gastroenterology & Stoma Care Nursing Forum Annual Conference & Exhibition 2005 Telford.
  • Lee, S., Chelvanayagam, S.. Involvement of service users in the education of student nurses. In: 3rd International Conference on Community Health Nursing Research 2005 Japan.
  • Lee, S., Chelvanayagam, S.. Student nurses evaluation of training by service users. In: International Nursing Conference 2004 Gibraltar.
  • Noton, C., Chelvanayagam, S., Kamm, M.A., 2002. Randomised controlled trial of biofeedback for fecal incontinence. GASTROENTEROLOGY, 122 (4), A70.
  • Norton, C., Chelvanayagam, S., Kamm, M.A., 2002. Randomised controlled trial of biofeedback for faecal incontinence. GUT, 50, A61.
  • Chelvanayagam, S.. The use of focus groups to develop a quality of life measure for faecal incontinence. In: RCN Gastroenterology and Stoma Care Nursing Conference 1999 Eastbourne.
  • Wood, S.. Trends and Treatment in HIV-related Dementia. In: The Forgotten Age, Younger people & Dementia 1996 London.
  • Wood, S.. The role of the liaison psychiatric nurse in HIV care. In: AIDS Impact 2nd Biopsychosocial International Conference 1994 Brighton.
  • Langford, A., Wood, S., Catalan, J.. Mania and HIV related brain impairment: A strategy for care. In: 5th European Conference for Nurses in AIDS Care 1994 Dublin.
  • Wood, S.. The role of the liaison psychiatric nurse in HIV care. In: 4th European Conference for Nurses in AIDS Care 1993 Budapest.

Internet Publications

PhD Students

  • S. Chelvanayagam. An educational intervention for hospice nursing staff to improve end of life care for people with psychosis

Profile of Teaching PG

  • Managing Physical Health in Mental Healthcare

Profile of Teaching UG

  • Personal and professional development – shared unit
  • Anatomy and Physiology during the lifespan – shared unit
  • Physical care in mental health settings
  • Managing Mental Health in Specific Settings
  • Developing Knowledge for Practice
  • Evaluating Knowledge for Practice

External Responsibilities

  • British Journal of Nursing, Reviewer (2012-)
  • Gastrointestinal Nursing, Reviewer (2012-)
  • Nurse Education Today, Reviewer (2012-)

Qualifications

  • Post Graduate Diploma in Teaching & Learning (HE) (University of Hertfordshire, 2005)
  • MSc in Mental Health Studies (King’s College London, 1999)

Memberships

  • The Nursing & Midwifery Council, Registered Nurse (Adult) (1987-),
  • The Nursing & Midwifery Council, Registered Nurse (Mental Health) (1985-),
The data on this page was last updated at 05:00 on February 21, 2026.