Research Impact
Publications, conferences, awards, and media coverage spanning six continents.
Publications
Giving voice to the Deaf community: co-designing a Bangla Mental Health Sign Language Bank in Bangladesh.
Hasan, M. T., Hossain, M. K., Watterson, J., Saha, M., Layton, N., Islam, M. J., Ahmed, H. U., Varghese, D., & McNaney, R.
View Paper (DOI) ↗Recognitions
Digital Mental Health Leadership Excellence Award 2024
eMental Health International Collaborative (eMHIC)
Dr. Tasdik Hasan has been honored with the Digital Mental Health Leadership Excellence Award 2024 by the eMental Health International Collaborative (eMHIC) in recognition of his impactful work on deaf mental health. His research at Monash University, Melbourne, has been acknowledged as an important digital resource, addressing the mental health needs of a historically underserved community. As part of this recognition, Dr. Hasan has been inducted into the Digital Mental Health Hall of Fame for his impactful contributions. eMHIC highlighted his PhD research as a critical step toward inclusive and accessible mental health solutions for the deaf population.
Read more: eMHIC Feature on Dr. Tasdik Hasan ↗
Winner of the 3MT Competition – Faculty of Information Technology, Monash University
Monash University, Melbourne
Dr. Tasdik Hasan won the prestigious Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition from the Faculty of Information Technology at Monash University, Melbourne. This globally recognized competition, developed by The University of Queensland, challenges PhD students to effectively present their research in just three minutes, enhancing their academic, presentation, and research communication skills. Following his faculty-level victory, Dr. Hasan advanced to compete at the university-level competition in August 2024, showcasing his innovative research on deaf mental health to a wider academic audience.
You can watch the video from here: Monash University Three Minute Thesis & Visualise Your Thesis Final 2024 [24:11-27:33 mins] ↗
Winner of the Monash University Faculty of Information Technology Dean's Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Award
Monash University Faculty of IT
Dr. Khalid Hossain and Dr. Manika Saha won the Monash University Faculty of Information Technology Dean's Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Award in 2024 for their community informatics works in the global south including the works with deaf communities in Bangladesh.
Winner of Study UK Alumni Award 2025 (Bangladesh) - Science and Sustainability Category
British Council Bangladesh
Dr. M Tasdik Hasan has been honored as the Winner of the Study UK Alumni Award 2025 (Bangladesh) in the Science and Sustainability Category. This prestigious award recognizes his outstanding contributions to global mental health, epidemiology, and public health research, with a particular focus on deaf mental health. His work spans multiple countries, addressing mental health challenges among deaf communities, disaster response, and health equity. His achievement highlights the impact of UK education in driving positive change worldwide. Tasdik was also nominated for the British Council's Global Study UK Alumni Award 2025 in the Science and Sustainability category.
Winner of Visualise Your Thesis (VYT) Competition (Monash University)
Monash University — 2nd Runner-Up at Asia Pacific Final
Tasdik Hasan was announced as the winner of the Visualise Your Thesis competition at Monash University — the first time a PhD candidate from the Faculty of Information Technology has received this honour. He also achieved 2nd Runner-Up at the Asia Pacific Final, marking the best result for Monash University to date.
Watch his winning video ↗
Winner of Emerging Public Health Leader of the Year Award 2025 (Public Health Association of Australia)
Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA) — Australian Public Health Conference, Wollongong
Tasdik Hasan was awarded the Emerging Leader of the Year 2025 by the Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA) at the Australian Public Health Conference in Wollongong. The PHAA is the leading non-government organisation for public health in Australia, championing prevention, social determinants of health, and equity.
Scientific Gatherings
2nd Monash Interdisciplinary Workshop on Language — Special Theme: Thriving Communities
Monash University, Melbourne
Dr Khalid was invited to talk on the project at the 2nd Monash Interdisciplinary Workshop on Language - Special Theme: Thriving Communities organised by the Early Career Academic Committees of Faculty of IT and the Faculty of Arts on November 29, 2023 at Monash University, Melbourne.
Melbourne Round Table — eMental Health International Collaborative
Department of Health, Victoria & VicHealth, Melbourne
Associate Professor Dr. Roisin Mcnaney & Dr. Tasdik Hasan attended the Melbourne Round Table organised by the eMental Health International Collaborative, Department of Health, Victoria & VicHealth on May 03, 2024. The panellists of the roundtable discussed scalable and sustainable implementation of digital mental health initiatives and policy development across borders where deaf mental health and digital technology were discussed.
Special Lecture at iKeyNote Series
Online
Dr. Khalid was invited to give a special lecture at the iKeyNote Series titled as "Hearing Who Doesn't Hear: Co-Designing Digital Mental Health Interventions with Hearing Impaired People" on May 24, 2024.
Planetary Health Academia Speaker
Planetary Health Academia
Dr. Tasdik was invited by Planetary Health Academia as a speaker to present on, 'Hearing Who Doesn't Hear: Mental Health of Deaf Communities' on October 20, 2024.
You can watch the presentation here (In English) ↗
Poster Presentation at Global Mental Health in Asia 2025 Symposium
SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute, Singapore
Dr. Tasdik Hasan presented a scientific poster on the Deaf Mental Health Project at the Innovation Fair of the Global Mental Health in Asia 2025 Symposium and the official launch of the Mental Health Innovation Network (MHIN) Asia Hub. The event, organized by the SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute, took place in Singapore on February 17, 2025. Supported by leading global partners such as The World Bank, Musim Mas, INSEAD, and the Bloom Wellbeing Fund, alongside 12 additional sponsors, the symposium brought together over 70 speakers and 300 delegates from 25 countries—92% from Asia. The event provided a platform for pioneering mental health solutions, fostering collaboration across academia, policy, and practice to advance mental health innovations in the region.
Keynote at 2nd International Rethinking Mental Health Care Conference 2025
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Dr. Tasdik Hasan was invited as a keynote speaker at the 2nd International Rethinking Mental Health Care Conference 2025, held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on February 27, 2025. Under the conference theme "Navigating New Challenges and Innovations in the Digital Age," he shared insights on co-designing digital tools for deaf communities to improve mental health accessibility. In addition to his keynote address, Dr. Hasan conducted a workshop on "Challenges and Opportunities in Designing Digital Tools in Low-Resource Settings," highlighting practical strategies for inclusive and scalable digital mental health solutions. The conference brought together global experts to explore groundbreaking innovations in mental health care, fostering collaboration.
Meeting with the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Dr. Tasdik Hasan and Dr. Kamrun Nahar Koly had the honor of meeting the Honourable Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Harini Amarasuriya, at the 2nd International Rethinking Mental Health Care Conference 2025. The Prime Minister's deep commitment to mental health and well-being was evident in her inspiring words of courage, empathy, healing, and kindness, reinforcing the importance of prioritizing mental health on a national and global scale. At the conference, Dr. Tasdik delivered a keynote address on deaf mental health and facilitated a workshop on designing digital tools in low-resource settings. Meanwhile, Dr. Kamrun Nahar Koly contributed significantly to the scientific discourse by presenting two research posters showcasing innovative mental health interventions.
SXSW Sydney 2025
Sydney, Australia
Tasdik's presentation on Deaf Mental Health was selected for SXSW Sydney 2025, where he represented Monash University as the only student presenter. SXSW Sydney is one of the Asia-Pacific's leading innovation conferences, bringing together global creators, researchers, and industry leaders. With over 1,000 speakers, 400+ sessions, and participants from more than 40 countries, it serves as a major international platform for sharing bold ideas and shaping the future of creative and technological industries.
Emerging Health Policy & Economics Research (EHPER) Conference
University of Sydney
Tasdik presented on Policy Pathways for Inclusive Digital Mental Health in Bangladesh at the Emerging Health Policy & Economics Research (EHPER) Conference, organised by the Leeder for Health Policy, Economics and Data at the University of Sydney.
2025 Australian Public Health Conference
Wollongong, NSW, Australia
Tasdik presented on the co-design of the Bangla Mental Health Sign Language Bank at the 2025 Australian Public Health Conference in Wollongong, NSW, organised by the Public Health Association of Australia.
Media Coverage
Raising Awareness: Deaf Mental Health Featured on National TV
Dr. Tasdik and Dr. Khalid from Monash University, Jahirul Islam from Team Inclusion Bangladesh Foundation, sign language interpreter Arafat Sultana Lata, and deaf community representative Md. Abdullah was invited to the TV show "Shurokkhay Manoshik Shahstho" (Caring for Your Mental Health), hosted by Channel 24 in Bangladesh on December 3, 2024. The discussion highlighted the significance of addressing mental health challenges faced by the deaf community in a low-resource setting like Bangladesh and emphasized the impact of the ongoing project.
Global Recognition for Innovation in Deaf Mental Health
The Mental Health Commission of Canada recognized this project as one of eight global initiatives transforming lives through technology. It highlighted the project's collaborative approach, co-designing with deaf individuals, caregivers, healthcare providers, and sign language interpreters in Bangladesh. Deaf communities have long been overlooked in mental health care, and this initiative addresses that gap by developing culturally and linguistically tailored sign language tools for key terms like PTSD, stress, and depression.
Dr. Tasdik Hasan Featured on Channel 24
On February 24, 2025, Dr. Tasdik Hasan from Monash University was invited to speak on Channel 24's flagship TV show, Shurokkhay Manoshik Shahstho (Caring for Your Mental Health), in Bangladesh. The discussion explored the critical intersection of human rights, technology, and mental health, shedding light on innovative approaches to mental well-being. The episode featured distinguished guests, including Sir Robert van Voren, a globally renowned human rights advocate recently honored with a knighthood, and Charlene Sunkel, a leading voice for mental health advocacy through lived experience. The session was expertly moderated by Dr. Kamrun N. Koly, a prominent mental health researcher in Bangladesh.
Empowering the Deaf Community: Launch of Bangladesh's First Mental Health Sign Language Bank
Monash University, in collaboration with the Team Inclusion Foundation and Bangladeshi sign language users, launched the first-ever sign language bank for mental health terms in Bangladesh on 24th February 2025 at the Impact Hub in Dhaka.
Empowering the Deaf Community: Launch of Bangladesh's First Mental Health Sign Language Bank
Monash University, in collaboration with the Team Inclusion Foundation and Bangladeshi sign language users, launched the first-ever sign language bank for mental health terms in Bangladesh on 24th February 2025 at the Impact Hub in Dhaka. The event was attended by government officials, representatives from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of Social Services, members of the Deaf community, sign language interpreters, psychiatrists, psychologists, NGO representatives, and public health professionals.
This initiative aims to empower the Deaf community by providing accessible resources to express mental health-related emotions. With over 60 new signs for terms like ‘depression’, ‘panic’, and ‘mental health’, the project bridges the communication gap for individuals who have long lacked a dedicated vocabulary for mental wellbeing.
The sign bank and educational materials are available online with Bangla and English subtitles, enhancing accessibility. In addition, the project includes a series of video resources featuring professional sign language interpreters and Deaf individuals, designed to raise awareness of mental wellbeing within the Deaf community. The co-developed tools were created through the collaboration of individuals with lived experience of deafness, sign language interpreters, and mental healthcare professionals.
For more information and to access the resources, visit MindsignsBD on YouTube.
