BANGLADESH

At least three in ten people suffer from one form of mental illness or the other in Bangladesh, but most of them do not consider it as an 'illness', aggravating their condition, according to mental health experts.

"The number is increasing by the day as society and lifestyle change," Prof Golam Rabbani, director at the National Institute of Mental Health, told bdnews24.com on Sunday, a day before World Mental Health Day.

This year, the day's theme is to encourage investments in prevention, treatment and promoting awareness of mental illnesses.

"People with mental disorders are mostly neglected and traumatised," Rabbani said. On many occasions they believe it is not an illness and only see a psychologist or psychiatrist when things get worse.

Taslima Akhter who comes twice a week at the institute to take therapy for her diagnosed 'obsessive-compulsive disorder' said she did not realise at first that it was an illness.

"She used to wash and clean hands and cooking utensils again and again. Even she changes dishes quite often. Things were getting worse every day," her husband Moslem Ali told bdnews24.com. First, he too could not understand it was a disease.

"We saw a psychiatrist at one of our relatives' request," he said, adding the doctor said the condition had advanced.

Studies of the institute show 16 percent above 18 years of age go through some form of mental illnesses while the rate is 18 percent among children aged between five and 17 years.

The studies also found prevalence of the disease in rural Bangladesh too.

"Earlier families used to live together, but they are nuclear now. Their (people's) demand is growing, but most of the time they cannot fulfil them due to soaring costs.

"It raises the risk of mental illnesses," Rabbani said.

"But their depression and mode disorders remain unnoticed, until (the condition) aggravates."

One study found children of older parents, nuclear family and families with a mental disorder are more likely to do drugs.

Strong link was found between mental disorders and drug abuse in the study.

Father's low educational background, parents' mental disturbances and birth trauma are significantly linked with children's mental retardation and epilepsy, according to the institute of mental health's survey.

"Mental disorders not only cripple a person or a family, but also stand in the way of building a bright future generation," Rabbani said, They also adversely impact the whole healthcare system.

"It never received priority on the health agenda before as it gets now," he said.

"Earlier treatment was concentrated in larger hospitals. But now the government has decided to take it to the grassroots."

The director said health workers and doctors were being trained up and community health care centres would be equipped to offer primary treatment. The five-year sector plan for health integrated mental health with other physical illnesses.

"But the action should be consistent," he said, soliciting support from the private sector and NGOs to ensure 'a sound mind in a sound body', to all.