Mental health services to reach 500 upazilas: Muhit

The government has launched a new Community Mental Health Project to bring mental health services to the doorsteps of marginalised communities, State Minister for Health Dr MA Muhit has said. 

He also said that initially piloted in 20 upazilas, the programme is planned to be gradually expanded to 500 upazilas across the country.

He made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a seminar titled “Social Mental Health: A Pathway to Inclusive Social Welfare” at the Bangla Academy on Tuesday, marking World Mental Health Day.

The seminar was jointly organised by several social development organisations, including Anchol Foundation, the Human Rights Development Centre (HRDC) and Lido. Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Youth Employment Syed Bin Abdullah and former secretary of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Saidur Rahman also spoke at the event.

Dr Muhit said mental health had become a major public health crisis worldwide, driven by armed conflicts, rapidly changing lifestyles, loneliness and excessive digital dependence. Young people and adolescents are among the worst affected, he added. He also warned that failure to protect human dignity and rights could lead to further social unrest.

The state minister stressed the need to develop a skilled workforce alongside investing in buildings and expensive equipment. He said the project aims to link the services of the National Institute of Mental Health in Dhaka and the mental hospital in Pabna directly with district and upazila-level facilities.