Call for addressing mental health problems

Health experts during a webinar stressed the need for giving serious attention to mental health problems to fight adverse impact of Covid-19 on women and children.

They said mental health is generally ignored in Bangladesh due to social stigma, lack of awareness and health facilities, but the situation has further worsened during the pandemic.

Vulnerability of women and children has risen as incidents of domestic violence and unemployment increased, but scope to access health facilities, entertainment and other facilities reduced, they added.

Doctors without Borders Bangladesh hosted the programme styled 'Mental health impacts of Covid-19 on women and children' on Tuesday night.

Dr Helal Uddin Ahmed, assistant professor of National Institution of Mental Health, said every child's mental health should be taken care of.

Parents have a role to play in ensuring the psychological stimulation of children through building social as well as domestic awareness.

Hasina Momotaz, national consultant (mental health) of the World Health Organisation, said parents should make room for entertainment of young children as they are completely locked at home during pandemic.

Directorate General of Health Service's non-communicable diseases programme line director Dr Habibur Rahman Khan and deputy manager Maruf Ahmed Khan, among other, addressed the webinar.

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