The Crime Desk: Due to ignorance, misconceptions, fear, public shame, and various superstitions about mental illness, people are taking non-traditional, non-scientific treatment instead of scientific treatment of mental illness. As a result, mental illness becomes more serious instead of being cured.
According to a recent study, about 18.7 percent of adults and 12.6 percent of children and adolescents are suffering from mental illness. About 92% of the affected people are deprived of any kind of medical care. However, mental illness can be completely cured through modern treatment. According to public health experts, 25 to 30 percent of mental patients recover completely if treated at the right time.
They say that the incidence of mental illness is increasing day by day in the country due to modern urbanization, socio-economic conditions, mental stress, heredity, and other physiological and psychosocial reasons. Many people do not consider mental problems to be diseases. Does not give special importance and does not take initiative to get proper treatment. As a result, mental problems are increasing internally.
In this context, World Mental Health Day will be celebrated today, October 10. The theme of this year’s day is ‘Mental health is a universal human right’. On this occasion, various government and private programs have been undertaken. These programs include the publication of pamphlets, processions, round table meetings, meetings with the press, discussion meetings, scientific seminars, and the provision of free mental health services. The World Federation for Mental Health started the World Mental Health Day program on October 10, 1992, to eliminate misconceptions and prejudices and create public awareness about mental illness worldwide. The Bangladesh Association of Psychiatrists (BAP) has organized rallies, discussions, distribution of leaflets, display of posters and banners, and free mental health services on the occasion of the day.
Meanwhile, on the occasion of World Mental Health Day, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said in a statement that mental health is a very important issue for humanity, which allows us to fulfill our lives and contribute fully to the community. Yet one in eight people worldwide lives with a mental health problem. Among them, women and young people are the most affected.
Mental health situation in the country
Not good mental health. A joint study by the National Institute of Mental Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) found that 18.7 percent of adults have a mental illness. Anxiety prevalence is 4.7 percent, and depression is 6.7 percent. 12.6 percent of children and adolescents are mentally ill. Neurodevelopmental disorders are five and a half percent. Conduct disorder is 1.7 percent. General anxiety disorder is 4.7 percent.
Drug use figures show that 3.3 percent of adults use drugs. 4.8 percent of them are men, and 6.6 percent are women. 1.5 percent of children between 12 and 17 years of age take drugs, and 2.1 percent of children between 7 and 11 years of age are drug addicts.
On the other hand, a media advocacy meeting organized by Light House, a voluntary development and social service organization, informed me yesterday that one in eight people in Bangladesh is mentally ill. And 18.70 percent of people aged 18 and above are suffering from mental problems, and 11 percent are among 18- to 29-year-olds. Among children and adolescents aged 7 to 17 years, this rate is 12.60 percent. And according to the World Health Organization (WHO), 20 percent of children and adolescents worldwide suffer from mental health problems.
