World Mental Health Day being observed

The 'World Mental Health Day' is being observed in the county as elsewhere in the globe today (Friday). The World Health Organisation (WHO) has been observing the day since 1992 to create greater awareness among people. This year’s theme is ‘Living with Schizophrenia.’ Amidst growing concern about mental health globally, the World Mental Health Day 2014 is being observed with the call to extend whole-hearted support to the cause of the mentally sick. President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages on the eve of the day. The president in his message said that the concept of health remains incomplete without an adequate understanding of mental health. The focal point of the day will be the National Mental Health Institute which has chalked up elaborate programs to make the day successful. The director of the institute, Dr Waziul Alam Chowdhury, said they will be targeting the care-givers this year. ‘We will reach out to government and private hospitals and clinics, so that general physicians understand mental diseases better,’ he said. The WHO estimates that every year more than 26 million people are afflicted by schizophrenia across the world. Usually, these people and others with mental problems survive 10 to 15 years less than others, according to a news agency.