World Mental Health Day is observed today, October 10, under the theme “Lived experiences heard: real voices, real change”, highlighting the importance of listening to people with mental health conditions and involving them in decisions that affect their lives.
On the eve of the day, the president and prime minister issued separate messages.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says people with lived experience of mental health conditions should have a meaningful role in shaping mental health policies, designing services and evaluating care. Their participation can help reduce stigma, protect human rights and ensure that services respond to people’s actual needs.
The WHO has also called for a shift from institution-based care towards community-based mental health services that promote dignity, independence and inclusion.
In Cox’s Bazar, access to mental health services remains limited, with no dedicated mental health department at the district’s Sadar Hospital and a lack of reliable local data on the prevalence of mental health conditions among the local population.
Mental health specialist Dr Mohammad Kafil Uddin told Cox’s Bazar Life that he was not aware of reliable local data providing a clear picture of mental health conditions among the district’s local population. National-level statistics, however, indicate that mental health problems are widespread.
Citing national figures, he said around 18 per cent of the country’s population experienced mental health conditions requiring treatment, while about one per cent suffered from severe conditions. He added that only around 30 per cent of people with mental health conditions sought treatment.
Dr Kafil Uddin said a lack of awareness continued to prevent many people from seeking timely care, as mental health problems were often interpreted differently rather than recognised as medical conditions.
“Mental illness is not witchcraft, nor is it a matter of amulets or rituals. It is a disease like any other. Public awareness must be increased, and people should seek medical treatment when necessary,” he said.
He stressed the need to change social attitudes towards mental health, urging families not to ignore unusual behavioural changes, prolonged depression, excessive anxiety or other signs of psychological distress, but to seek medical advice.
Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital lacks a separate mental health department, leaving patients to receive care within existing, limited arrangements.
Dr Kafil Uddin said he had been posted under another department in the context of initiatives and activities by international organisations addressing the healthcare needs of forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals, commonly known as Rohingyas.
“There is no separate department for mental health services at Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital. I am also working here under another department in the context of the needs of the FDMN (Rohingya) programme,” he said.
He said the need to establish an institutional framework for mental health care had been discussed at various forums. He added that at least one post for a psychiatrist should be created at every government hospital in the country.
Mental health care requires more than a specialist, he said. Regular patient monitoring, necessary medication, counselling and coordinated psychosocial support are also important components of treatment.
Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital superintendent Mong Tin Nyo said the hospital currently has neither a psychiatrist nor a dedicated mental health department, although it plans to introduce one in the future.
Patients with mental health conditions can nevertheless seek treatment at Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital’s outpatient department.
Dr Kafil Uddin said patients could consult him in room 323 from Saturday to Wednesday, five days a week, by purchasing an outpatient ticket for Tk 5.
According to him, an average of 20 to 25 patients seek mental health services there every day. He also treats patients admitted through the emergency department when needed. In addition, he has a chamber at a private hospital.
However, access to a single doctor does not create a comprehensive mental health service system. Without a dedicated department, adequate staffing, and coordinated care, rising demand could further strain the limited services available.
As World Mental Health Day draws attention to the voices and experiences of people living with mental health conditions, ensuring accessible, affordable and institutionalised mental health care for the local population remains an important concern in Cox’s Bazar.
Cox’s Bazar Life Report
Photo: Courtesy
