​As we mark Tamil Heritage Month this January, we spoke with Dr. Gunaratnam about his path to psychiatry, the role of culture in mental health, and what continues to motivate his work at SHN. 

Can you tell us about your journey to becoming a psychiatrist? 

I grew up in Sri Lanka during the civil war and lost my father at a young age, so I was raised by a single mother under very difficult circumstances. When I came to Canada, I initially worked in the community as a geriatric mental health case manager and addictions counsellor. Through that work, I saw firsthand how unmet the need was for mental health care, especially for immigrant and marginalized communities. That’s what ultimately led me to medicine and psychiatry. 

The journey wasn’t easy as an international medical graduate, but I was fortunate to find mentors and opportunities along the way. I completed my training in Canada, earned recognition as Best Senior Resident at Western University, and eventually returned to SHN, where I first trained as a resident. I had set out goals to offer care based in understanding and destigmatizing mental health struggles in cultural groups. 

I’ve been a psychiatrist here for eight years now, and am also a lead physician for continued education in psychiatry.  

What does it mean to you to serve as a Tamil-speaking psychiatrist in Scarborough? 

Language is important, but cultural understanding goes much deeper than that. Mental health is shaped by how people understand illness, stigma, family roles, and recovery. Being Tamil allows me to connect with patients in a way that builds trust more quickly, because I understand the cultural context behind their experiences. 

Scarborough has a large Tamil population, yet there are very few psychiatrists who share that background. I see this role as both a responsibility and a privilege. It’s also why I’m involved in equity, diversity, and inclusion work through the University of Toronto and within the health system more broadly.

How do you manage mental health stigma and how it affects patients in your day-to-day practice? 

Stigma is still very real, even among highly educated patients. I’ve worked with Tamil university students who are afraid to seek help because they worry it could affect their future careers or how they’re perceived by family and community. 

A big part of my work is gently addressing that resistance, explaining that mental illness is no different from physical illness and that early support leads to better outcomes. It can be challenging, but it’s also incredibly meaningful work. You see lives change when people finally feel safe asking for help. 

How does cultural sensitivity influence mental health outcomes? 

Culture affects everything: how symptoms are described, when someone seeks help, what treatments they’re open to, and how recovery is defined. If clinicians recognize cultural struggles early — whether related to immigration, identity, or intergenerational conflict — the treatment process is often much better. 

Interestingly, I’ve found many similarities between the struggles people face in Sri Lanka and those faced by immigrant communities in Canada. Displacement, adjustment, and loss are universal experiences, and acknowledging that can make the healing journey far more effective. 

What keeps you motivated in your work at SHN? 

SHN is an incredibly collaborative place to work. There’s strong leadership in psychiatry, and we rely heavily on multidisciplinary teamwork with great nurses, social workers, and admin staff who stay connected with our clients. I also lead a weekly physician journal club, which has been running for five years, and I’m proud of how committed our physicians are to continuous learning. 

Beyond the hospital, I participate in Tamil community fundraising initiatives that support SHN. Mental health care saves lives, and I truly believe it deserves the same level of attention and resources as any other specialty. Despite the challenges, I don’t regret choosing psychiatry for a moment. 

This Tamil Heritage Month, Dr. Gunaratnam’s story is a reminder of how culture, compassion, and community come together to strengthen care — and how representation in health care can make a lasting difference. ​