Over 16 percent adult Bangladeshis suffer from mental health disorders

[H. M. Nasim]

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Some 16.05 percent of Bangladesh's adult population (Aged 18 and above) are suffering from mental health disorders.

In the case of children and juvenile (aged below 18), this percentage is 18.40.

Associate Prof Dr. Mekhla Sarker of the National Institute of Mental Health and Hospital (NIMH) stated these at a seminar on Sunday while presenting her keynote paper at the conference room of the NIMH in the city's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area.

She referred to two joint surveys carried out by NIMH and the United Nations World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2005 and 2009.

She said there are only 230 expert psychiatrists in the country which is only 0.073 percent for the population of one lakh in the country. Mekhla Sarker said the number of bed in hospitals is only 0.58 against one lakh people.

In her keynote presentation, Meghla also underscored the need for more mental growth of the youths.

Health Minister Md Nasim was present as the chief guest in the seminar organized by the Bangladesh Association of Psychiatrists (BAP).

Chaired by BAP president Prof Dr. Md Waziul Alam Chowdhury, the seminar was also addressed, among others, by the president of Shadhinota Chikitshok Parishad (SAC) Prof Dr. M Iqbal Arsnal, its general secretary Prof Dr. MA Aziz and Director of the NIMH Prof Dr. Faruque Alam.