As many as 30 million people in Bangladesh, around 18.4 per cent of the country's adult population, are suffering from mental health issues.
Out of the number, 13 per cent of children and teenagers are also affected by this mental illness. Currently, 10-14 thousand people are committing suicide in the country which has become a matter of concern.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Malique came up with the information at a notification event of the World Mental Health Report and National Mental Health Action Plan 2020-30 held in the city on Wednesday.
Emphasising that it is important to increase medical services to improve mental health; he added that mental health can no longer be treated lightly like other diseases.
Another statistic shows that 92 per cent of people are out of mental health care. We have to work more on this, said the health minister.
The health minister said that the government has taken various measures to improve mental health. Various other initiatives have been taken including upgrading the Pabna Mental Hospital from 200 beds to 400 beds.
Chairman of Suchna Foundation and keynote speaker of the event, Prime Minister's daughter Saima Wazed emphasised on bringing changes from the family to improve mental health.
The Director General of DGHS Prof Dr. A B M Khurshid Alam said that the allocation should be increased if we want to improve mental health.
“Only 10.5 per cent allocation has been given in this sector. But 60 per cent of the allocation is being spent on training and other activities. So, increasing the allocation is very important.”
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