Mental health is a public health issue

Across Bangladesh, hundreds of thousands of citizens silently suffer from serious mental health illnesses without treatment or diagnosis. Last year, a total of 582 students in the country died by suicide, according to a study by Aachol Foundation. When reports of such tragic cases come about, our first response as a society is to offer sympathy and scour through details of individual lives to find some reasoning behind the incidents. But the cause of such tragedies lies in the fact that mental health is still largely misunderstood as a personal issue, with a lingering social stigma in seeking help. As we observe World Mental Health Day on October 10 every year, we must recognise that the mental health crisis in the nation isn't just about the unhappiness of individuals. It's about our society, economy, and the gruelling shortcomings of our medical establishment.

In the government budget for FY 2022-23, mental healthcare was mentioned as part of an "In addition..." bit, with a plan to expand Pabna Mental Hospital to international standards. Yet, the specialised facility remains alarmingly inadequate, being unchanged for decades and having only 500 beds. According to a recent report by this daily, the Pabna hospital has been failing to offer proper services due to a lack of manpower and equipment. Only 14 doctors are working, while 17 posts have long been vacant! The abysmal state of the most reliable mental health hospital in the nation only shows that those who suffer from chronic mental health issues are victims of a healthcare system that is simply not designed to meet their needs.

Last year, the country undertook its first ever National Mental Health Policy to decrease suicide rates through prevention and awareness programmes. However, the Bangladesh Psychiatrists Association has highlighted how the policy does not recognise the significance of mental health. We urge the health ministry to overhaul the Pabna Mental Hospital and start treating mental health with the same priority as any other physical illness. A rigorous plan must be developed to allocate adequate human and financial resources for district hospitals and upazila health complexes, as well as training for community health workers, to respond to mental health emergencies. Furthermore, to address the prevalence of mental health issues among the youth, educational institutions should accommodate psychological health counselling. As citizens battle with persistent socioeconomic issues in the nation today – such as increasing income inequality and unemployment – it has never been more urgent to take mental health seriously.