Shanu Usgaonkar

Mental health and social research professional with extensive experience in quantitative and qualitative research, community-based data collection, stakeholder interviews, screening assessments, training support, reporting, and field coordination. Experienced in addiction and mental health research projects across Goa, with strong communication, documentation, and team management skills.

Researcher - Sangath - Goa

(2013-01 - 2025-11)

Research Professional | Field Researcher

• Conducted comprehensive mental health, addiction, and public health screening assessments across schools, primary healthcare centres, and community settings, ensuring adherence to research protocols and ethical standards.
• Administered standardized assessment tools and screening instruments to identify mental health concerns, substance use issues, psychosocial challenges, and treatment needs among diverse populations.
• Led qualitative data collection activities, including in-depth interviews and semi-structured interviews with adolescents, adults, caregivers, teachers, healthcare providers, counsellors, and community stakeholders.
• Facilitated sensitive discussions with individuals experiencing depression, alcohol use disorders, psychological distress, and other mental health concerns while maintaining confidentiality and participant well-being.
• Conducted interviews with persons affected by alcohol use disorders and their family members to explore treatment pathways, barriers to care, recovery experiences, and family dynamics.
• Supported implementation research projects aimed at improving access to mental healthcare services through integration within primary healthcare systems.
• Participated in participant recruitment, informed consent procedures, eligibility screening, enrolment, follow-up assessments, and retention activities for research studies.
• Coordinated field operations across multiple sites, ensuring timely completion of study activities, participant tracking, and adherence to project timelines.
• Worked closely with psychiatrists, psychologists, counsellors, social workers, medical officers, and community health workers to facilitate research implementation and service delivery.
• Assisted in training and mentoring field investigators, research assistants, and community-based workers on study protocols, interviewing techniques, ethical conduct, and data quality standards.
• Conducted translation and back-translation of research materials, consent forms, interview guides, and participant communications across English, Hindi, Marathi, and Konkani.
• Performed transcription, quality checking, and validation of qualitative interview recordings to ensure accuracy and completeness of research data.
• Supported data quality assurance processes through regular monitoring, verification, documentation review, and compliance checks.
• Prepared field reports, progress updates, case summaries, and project documentation for internal review and donor reporting requirements.
• Contributed to stakeholder engagement activities involving healthcare providers, educational institutions, community leaders, and local government representatives.
• Supported implementation of the IMPRESS project focused on strengthening access to depression care through primary healthcare services in Goa.
• Participated in community outreach and awareness activities related to mental health promotion, early identification, treatment engagement, and stigma reduction.
• Collaborated with multidisciplinary research teams to generate evidence supporting mental health policy, service delivery improvements, and community-based interventions.
• Demonstrated strong skills in qualitative interviewing, rapport building, crisis-sensitive communication, participant engagement, and culturally appropriate research practices.

Junior Officer - Damodar Mangalji & Co. Ltd. - Goa

(2010-01 - 2012-09)

• Managed manpower allocation and shift supervision.
• Prepared daily operational reports and records.
• Coordinated preventive maintenance activities.
• Supervised technicians and operational staff.

12th Standard - Commerce

Diploma - Yoga & Wellness Teacher Training

Diploma - Mining Engineering - Government Polytechnic, Bicholim

BA - Yoga shastra