RAJSHAHI, Oct 11, 2018 (BSS) – Optimum treatment and necessary
healthcare facilities for the mentally sick people are very vital to
facilitate them to get back their normal life.
Collective effort is urgently needed as all the mental diseases
excepting the schizophrenia are curable. Social awareness alongside a
positive attitude toward the patients is very crucial for their early
recovery from mental sickness.
The observation came at a discussion titled “Mental Health for Youth in
Changing World” at the conference hall of Civil Surgeon Office in Rajshahi
city yesterday. Civil Surgeon Office organized the discussion in association
with Non-communicable Disease Control Programme of Directorate of Health
Services to mark the World Mental Health 2018.
Civil Surgeon Dr Sanjit Kumar Shaha, Deputy Civil Surgeon Dr Enamul
Haque and BRAC district representative Jahedul Islam addressed the discussion
disseminating their expertise on the issue.
During his keynote presentation, Dr Sheikh Abu Hena Mostofa Alim,
Associate Professor of Department of Psychiatry in Rajshahi Medical College
Hospital, said mental illnesses are an under-recognized public health problem
in Bangladesh.
“Awareness about mental illness and acceptance of treatment are very low
due to social stigma and superstition,” he said adding psychosocial care of
mentally sick and disaster affected people constitute a major challenge for
the health and the social welfare systems of the country.
Taking advantages of the situation, Dr Mostofa Alim said some quacks and
opportunist groups have been working as money-makers through exploiting the
patients.
He added that the mal-practitioners are pushing the patients toward an
endangered condition. Mental health needs to be brought under the
surveillance system.
The state level treatment facilities for the mentally disorder patients
are very limited, he said and underscored the need for uplifting the scopes
to cope with the situation.
Dr Sanjit Kumar said integration of mental health services intro primary
healthcare has become the most viable way of narrowing the treatment gap and
ensuring that the common people benefit from mental health promotion.
All the drug addicts especially the intravenous drug users always suffer
from mental sickness as the drugs damage their body strengths and the central
nervous system. The mental patients are the most vulnerable section of the
society.
Meanwhile, Departments of Psychology of Rajshahi University and Rajshahi
College also observed the day in befitting manner.