Shojon offering affordable psychological counselling

In this city of ours, mental illness is on the rise. Due to social taboos and a lack of knowledge regarding proper medical care facilities, most sufferers do not avail treatment. For many, seeking medical help is not even an option, as the costs of seeking psychological counselling and medication are high. It is exactly here where SHOJON, an initiative of SAJIDA Mental Health Program comes in. They offer professional emotional help to the poor for Tk 200 per session.

"SHOJON is a tele-mental health helpline, where people can call and receive counselling from our mental health professionals. We even have discounts for people who cannot afford Tk 200 and at times we give them free service after evaluating their financial conditions," says Mukit Akram, programme manager, SAJIDA Mental Health Program.

Israt Jahan, senior clinical psycho-social counsellor of SHOJON, adds, "We provide mental health care regardless of race, class, or sexual orientation. We have two tele mental health services, one is SHOJON and the other one is KAAN PETE ROI, an emotional support and suicide helpline that provides a safe space for individuals in need of an immediate emotional outlet.

"KAAN PETE ROI is a service dealing only with suicide and instant support. We have no counselling for these hapless people. It is from this need that we founded SHOJON in 2021 and started to provide counselling."

The fee of Tk 200 is for sessions lasting between 40 to 45 minutes with no call charge, as the call goes from SHOJON to the people in distress.

SHOJON works in three tiers, the first one is where the para-counsellor does the initial assessment and counsel, and tier two is where the para-counsellor sends the client for sessions with psychologists if they feel the need for it. The third tier is for clients who need medical help and arrange for sessions with the psychiatrist maintaining overall client confidentiality.

"Since 2021 we have given primary mental health support to 3,545 callers in tier one, helped 537 clients in tier two, and 65 got psychological session and psychiatric service in tier three," Akram said.

To raise awareness among clients, SHOJON has partnership programmes with development-based national and international organisations that address issues of the urban poor. They want to ensure that this community can also avail of mental health services.

"My observation is that there is still a stigma in the community, the barrier comes from the family, husband, or parents. They feel counselling is not needed; sadness of the mind will become normal with time. It is time we understand the need for help and not feel afraid. Most of our clients are students, job holders, and from extreme poverty. Once they avail of our outreach program, they said they are feeling better after talking and sharing their woes," Israt Jahan says.

SHOJON has an internationally certified six-month diploma programme in community mental health care. The internship programme for fresh graduates in psychology from Dhaka University and other institutes gives training and real-life practise session with an authentic six-month diploma in community mental health care and a six-month training programme.

SHOJON recruits trainees to build a resource of quality-ensured para counsellors with enough knowledge about community setting.

Thus, emotionally vulnerable people from any background can now access mental health services by calling 09612119900 anytime from 8:00am to 8:00pm and receive counselling from mental health professionals.