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PM calls for action to end mental health stigma

Published : Friday, 9 October, 2026 at 9:03 PM

Observer Online Report

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has said mental health protection is an important component of the government’s public welfare-oriented health policy, stressing the need to ensure accessible, quality and inclusive mental health services for all.

In a message issued on the occasion of World Mental Health Day 2026, to be observed on October 10, the prime minister said health was not merely the absence of physical illness but a state of physical, mental, spiritual and social well-being.

“Therefore, mental health can in no way be neglected,” he said.

This year’s theme for World Mental Health Day is “Listen to Life, Bring Real Change,” which highlights the importance of giving due consideration to people’s personal experiences, feelings and opinions in mental health care. Tarique Rahman said Bangladesh, alongside the rest of the world, would observe the day with due importance.

The prime minister said, mental health was not merely a matter of medical treatment but was closely linked to human dignity, family, society and the overall well-being of the state.

He stressed the need for collective efforts to eliminate fear, shame, superstition and discrimination surrounding mental illness. Instead of neglecting or isolating people experiencing mental health problems, he said, society must listen to them, stand by them and make it easier for them to access the support they need.

Listening to and respectfully acknowledging the experiences and feelings of people living with mental health conditions is a prerequisite for meaningful change, he added.

Tarique Rahman said, the government aimed to build a healthcare system that gave equal importance to mental well-being, social security and improved quality of life alongside physical health.

With this humane approach, the government was working to expand services at upazila and primary healthcare levels, develop a skilled workforce, establish an effective referral system and broaden technology-based counselling services to bring mental healthcare closer to people, he said.

Describing mental health as a major public health challenge worldwide, the prime minister noted that a large number of people in Bangladesh experienced mental health problems but many remained deprived of appropriate treatment and support due to social stigma, a lack of awareness, limited access to services and shortages of trained professionals.

To address these challenges, the government had undertaken various initiatives to improve the accessibility, quality and capacity of mental health services, he said.

The prime minister said, initiatives had been taken to expand integrated referral systems at upazila and district levels and extend tele-counselling services to reach marginalised communities.

Plans were also underway to train doctors working at the upazila level in mental healthcare, strengthen the capacity of mental health professionals in government hospitals and provide mental health training to a large number of healthcare workers.

The government was also giving due importance to the mental health of pregnant women, the psychological well-being of children and adolescents, and school-based mental health services, he added.

Calling on mental health professionals to play a more active role, Tarique Rahman urged them to listen attentively and sincerely to people, offer empathetic support and ensure access to necessary treatment and assistance.

He also underscored the importance of raising awareness about mental health among families, educational institutions, the media and people from all walks of life.

Through the collective efforts of the government, healthcare professionals, families, educational institutions and society, Bangladesh could become a country where no one felt hesitant to talk about mental health, ashamed to seek help or alone and neglected, he said.

The government wanted to build a welfare-oriented, safe and humane Bangladesh where every person could lead a healthy and meaningful life with dignity, hope and opportunity, the prime minister added.

Concluding his message, Tarique Rahman wished good health and well-being to people in Bangladesh and around the world and expressed his hope for the overall success of World Mental Health Day 2026