Multiple steps for raising awareness about Schizophrenia stressed

Speakers at a discussion in the city emphasized Friday  on taking multiple steps by the government and other stakeholders for increasing awareness about mental illness, especially Schizophrenia, reports UNB.

Schizophrenia is a severe brain disorder in which people interpret reality abnormally. It may result in some combination of hallucinations, delusions, and extremely disordered thinking and behaviour.

The speakers said if proper steps are taken, society will remain tolerant towards the patients suffering from Schizophrenia and their families will find favourable environment to reveal their self-identity.

Welfare Society for Mental Health and Rehabilitation (WSMHR) organised the discussion on 'Living with Schizophrenia' the theme of the World Mental Health Day 2014.

Health and Family Welfare secretary Md Neazuddin Miah was present as the chief guest at the discussion at Dhaka Reporters' Unity. WSMHR president Abul Kalam Azad presided over the discussion.

WSMHR general secretary Badrul Mannan presented the keynote paper, while executive director of the Centre for Disability in Development AHM Noman and Prof Kamal UA Chowdhury of Clinical Psychology Department, Dhaka University, among others, took part in the discussion.

In his keynote paper, Badrul Mannan referred to a study conducted during 2003-2005 among individuals above 18 years in Bangladesh and said the number of people suffering from complex mental problems is only 1.1 per cent in the country.

On the other hand, he said a World Health Organisation (WHO) report conducted in 2001 said some 1 per cent people of the world population are affected by the Schizophrenia.

"So, we can say that 1.1 per cent of our people who are affected by complicated mental illness are mainly suffering from Schizophrenia," Badrul Mannan said.

He made several recommendations including establishing rehabilitation centre as well as welfare trust to rehabilitate the patients suffering from severe mental disorders.

Speaking at the discussion, Health Secretary Md Neazuddin Miah said there has been massive progress in the country's health sector but admitted there was no attention to this particular area - Schizophrenia.

"We've not worked that much on mental health. It's our gross failure," he added.

The Health Secretary assured that his ministry will work on the issue and take proper steps.

"As part of the initiatives, we'll arrange a national seminar where experts on the issue will come up with recommendations and the government will take steps following the recommendations," he said.