Shawdesh dEsk:

Health and family welfare minister Zahid Maleque on Sunday said the government is trying to ensure proper mental health service in the country.

“We ignored the mental health issue in the past. We have to pay attention in the mental health sector in the next days,” he said.

He came up with the statement while speaking as chief guest at grand celebration marking years anniversary of Let’s Talk Mental Health at Le Meriden Dhaka hotel Sunday night. The programme was supported by Poriborton Kori.

Mentioning that there is lack of adequate psychiatrist and psychologist and relevant institute in the country, Zahid Maleque said the government is trying to set up institutes in district level to make skilled manpower to ensure proper health including mental service to people.

Dr. Mehtab Khanam, honorary professor at Department of Psychology of Dhaka University presented the keynote speech at the programme.

She lamented that there is lack of mental health services in Bangladesh as there is lack of necessary skilled manpower to provide the service here.

Mehtab Khanam said there are only 300 psychiatrists and not more than 500 skilled psychologists in Bangladesh.

“We need to have good institution as we need for skilled psychiatrists and psychologists in the country to provide mental health service to the country’s people,” she added.

Mehtab Khanam further said it is needed to appoint well trained and skilled counselors in educational institutions including schools, colleges and universities to build up a nation with good mental health.

She also emphasized on bringing good trainers from abroad for conducting training to get skilled and well trained psychiatrists and psychologists.

“After all good and quality training programme is needed for skilled manpower to ensure good mental health of the country’s people,” the notable psychologist of the country said.

At the function, prominent actress Shampa Reza said the mental health issues should be dealt seriously in the country for building a nation with good mental health.

Anusha Chowdhury, founder of Let’s Talk Mental Health delivered her welcome speech while Chowdhury Raheeb Sara fat, Youth Mental Health Advocate also spoke at the programme.