While the western world has equipped itself with support centres, certified counsellors, and group therapy sessions to tackle mental health issues, Bangladesh has yet to get over its taboo surrounding it. The stigma is so deeply enrooted that most prefer to suffer for years instead of seeking professional medical help. Oroddho is here to help change that!

An initiative by Awsaf Karim and Emad Khan, two medical students from Army Medical College Chattogram (AMCC), Oroddho Counselling is a web-based platform, where anyone suffering from mental health issues can receive professional counselling, free of cost. Whether its depression, anxiety, or suicidal impulses, Oroddho Counselling provides a safe haven for people to share their feelings and get proper help.

Starting their journey in July 2019, the team has already successfully counselled over 100 clients in their first month alone. Anyone in need of therapy can send Oroddho a message on their Facebook page; an anonymous counsellor is then assigned, who will provide counselling to that person for as long as it is required.

"We take the privacy of our clients very seriously. Many people are not comfortable opening up to friends or families for fear of being judged. So, we keep the entire counselling process anonymous to ensure that people can freely talk to us about anything," explained Awsaf Karim.

In fact, Oroddho team has also started their podcast, Radio Oroddho, which is available weekly on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, Stitcher, Anchor FM, and Google Podcasts. Through Radio Oroddho, Awsaf Karim responds to anonymous voice messages sent by sufferers of various health issues, and discusses how they can help themselves. Not only would these podcasts help others in dealing with similar issues, but also raise awareness on common mental illnesses.

With a mission to transform how psychiatry is perceived in the country, Oroddho Counselling knows that they have a tough job ahead of them and they are ready for it. If you, or anyone you know are need in of a counsellor, reach out to Oroddho through their Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/Oroddho.

You can also send emails to oroddho.123@gmail.com if you wish to have your mental health problem discussed on Radio Oroddho.