Introduction
Mental health has been hidden
behind a curtain of stigma and discrimination
for too long. It is time to bring it out into
the open. In Bangladesh, mental health activities
are generally concentrated on hospital-based
psychiatry, which is grossly inadequate. There
is an increasing awareness of the need to shift
the emphasis to community-based mental health
programme. Development of mental health policy,
innovative community-based programme, advocacy
and awareness campaigns and support for research
are essential.
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Highlights
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Based on global estimates,
there are 14 million mentally ill people
in the country. 0.5% of the population
are mentally disabled. There are seventy
qualified psychiatrists and 1 hospital
bed for 200,000 people in the country
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Substance abuse and drug dependence
have shown significant increase in Bangladesh.
Capacity building, advocacy and awareness campaigns,
innovative community-based management programmes,
development of training material, support for
research on issues related to substance abuse
are needed.
Country
situation
There is no reliable data on the prevalence
of mental illness in the country. Based on global
estimates, there are 14 million mentally ill
people in the country. 0.5% of the population
are mentally disabled. There are seventy qualified
psychiatrists and 1 hospital bed for 200,000
people in the country. A study on prevalence
of mental illness, awareness and care acceptance
is in progress with support from WHO.
Current WHO
support
WHO is providing support in the capacity building
of primary health care physicians, other health
workers and religious leaders in prevention
and care of the mentally ill, training of psychiatrists,
procurement of essential psychiatric drugs,
advocacy and awareness building and research
& development.
Related
sites
- World Health Report 2001
- Investing in Mental Health
- The Mental Health Context
- Caring for Children and adolescent with
mental disorders: Setting WHO directions
Key documents
- Advocacy
- Ageing and Mental Health
- Child and Adolescent Mental health
- Evidence and Research (Project Atlas)
- Gender and Women’s Mental health
- Mental Health Global Action Programme
- Mental Health Emergencies
- Neurological Disorders, including Epilepsy
- Schizophrenia
- Suicide Prevention
Related links
- Atlas website (a database on mental health
resources)
- Management of Substance Abuse
- Observatory on Health Care for Chronic Conditions
- World Health Day 2001
- Information on WHO Mental Health Collaborating
Centres
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