Urban Reporter: Mental health disorders are a disease like any other common disease. But in our country, if someone has a mental problem, he is called ‘crazy’. So when mental problems are minor, patients feel shy to go to the doctor. There is concern about what people around or at home will think about it. If not treated at the right time, the extent of the disease may increase. At one point, when the patient behaves very violently or starts beating and destroying things, then the relative is tied and taken to the doctor. But if it was possible to start the treatment of the patient at the right time, the patient would have been 100% healthy. Many doctors are not interested in higher education in psychiatry or psychiatry, say stakeholders. As a result, there is a shortage of doctors for this disease across the country. Chittagong also has few expert doctors in psychiatry. Chittagong Medical College (CHMEC) Hospital is the only reliable place for treating mental patients. This ward is neglected compared to other wards. There is an assistant registrar in the ward, but there is no post of registrar. Besides, the professorship has been vacant for many years. At present, one Associate Professor, two Assistant Professors, and three Medical Officers are working.
Experts say that self-esteem, trust in others, building long-term relationships, deep feelings, and the power to forgive others are characteristics of healthy mental health. On the other hand, the absence of these traits in character gradually creates mental problems inside a person. Apart from this, the field of developing mental illness among children and teenagers has increased manifold. Children and adolescents are also at risk of mental disorders due to various internet-based games, a lack of physical nutrition, and genetics. Mental illness can develop in adults for a variety of reasons. Women often experience psychological problems after pregnancy and childbirth due to various reasons, including hormonal factors. Mental illness is born from it. Every patient recovers completely if he seeks the help of a doctor in the early stages.
According to the doctors of Chamek Hospital, there are currently 23 government-approved beds in the ward. However, 60 beds have been installed considering the demand of the patients. But due to the shortage of doctors in the ward, no one stays at night. On the other hand, there is also a crisis in the fourth class. Because mental patients are violent or behave abnormally, Class IV staff are needed to suppress them. The wards are often chaotic due to the shortage of staff in class IV. At present, there are 6 class IV employees in the ward.
In the psychiatric department of Chamek Hospital, it was seen on the ground that patients are lying in piles in different places. Some are shouting, and some are singing. Relatives of the patient said that many times the patient screamed at night. But there is no doctor in the ward at that time. It often wakes up other patients. As a result, they also created a ruckus in the ward.
Dr. Chamek Hospital Assistant Professor of Psychiatry Department. Himadri Mahajan told the media that there is a shortage of sufficient manpower in our ward. In the meantime, we are providing the highest service to the patients. In fact, there is a tendency in our country to ignore mental illness. It is a disease like any other part of the body. Therefore, if a problem occurs, treatment should be sought quickly.
