Collective efforts needed for dev of mental health

RAJSHAHI, Oct 11 (BSS): Highlighting the importance of mental health, academics and researchers have stressed the need for ensuring development of mental health.
They said optimum treatment and necessary healthcare facilities towards the mentally sick people are very vital to facilitate them to get back their normal life.
They made the observations while addressing a post-rally discussion at Rajshahi University (RU) on Tuesday. RU Mental Health Centre organised the meeting on the campus, marking the World Mental Health Day 2023.
Theme of the day this year is 'Mental Mealth is a Universal Human Right.' The day is devoted to promoting mental well-being across the world.
Pro-Vice chancellors Prof Sultan-Ul-Islam and Prof Humayun Kabir, Treasurer Prof Obayedur Rahman Pramanik, Dean of Bio Science Faculty Prof Shahidul Alam, Director of Mental Health Centre Prof Kazi Imrul Kayesh and Chairman of the Department of Clinical Psychology Dr Shariful Islam addressed the meeting.
Prof Kazi Imrul Kayesh said mental illnesses are an under-recognised public health problem in Bangladesh. "Awareness about mental illness and acceptance of treatment are very low due to social stigma and superstition."
Psychosocial care of the mentally sick and the disaster affected people constitute a major challenge for the health and the social welfare systems of the country.
Taking advantage of the situation, he said, some quacks and opportunist groups have been working as money-makers by exploiting the patients.
In his remarks, Pro-Vice chancellor Prof Sultan-Ul-Islam Dr Alam mentioned that the quacks are pushing the patients to endangered conditions. Mental health needs to be brought under the surveillance system incorporating other non-communicable diseases.
The state level treatment facilities for the mental disorder patients are very limited, he said and underscored the need for uplifting the scopes to cope with the situation.