Mental health awareness is important

Mohammad Tarequzzaman

The number of mental patients is increasing day by day. But it is a matter of great regret that common people are very indifferent in this regard. Everyone thinks mental patients are crazy – they still can’t come out of this idea. Although the government has worked to fix mental health laws and mental health policies, public awareness has not been fully created. It is very important to take care of mental health and be aware of it if you want to move yourself forward in the right way.

National Institute of Mental Health Professor Dr. Bidhan Ranjan Roy Poddar said these things in an exclusive interview given to Daily Adhikaran at his office last Saturday.

Doctor Bidhan Ranjan Roy Poddar said that the present government has taken some initiatives for mental patients. But it is not enough. More initiatives should be taken to solve this problem.

There was no mental health law in the country for many years. The current government has made the Mental Health Act-2018 and the Mental Health Policy 2022. Not only this, the government is including modern wards for mental patients in departmental hospitals. Besides, the country’s only complete mental hospital – Government Pabna Mental Health Hospital is being modernized. If these measures taken by the government are implemented, mental patients will get more medical care than at present. However, this professor of the National Institute of Mental Health also thinks that the government should take more initiatives to solve the existing crisis.

He also said that the government has adopted a strategic plan for the development of our health system. If we can move forward with the strategic plan, our overall health system, including mental health, will improve. The government plans to implement the strategic plans by 2030. The government is proceeding accordingly.

Dr. Bidhan Ranjan Roy Poddar said, we should lead a routine life so that we do not get affected by mental diseases. We need to get enough sleep, exercise and try to slow down mentally. Also, you have to give yourself a time of day. Then our mental health is likely to be good. Everyone should keep in mind that just as there are diseases in the body, there are also diseases in the mind. So if someone is suffering from a mental health problem, the first thing to do is to find out what kind of problem they have. Then go to the concerned doctors. And the second thing is that they need family support to develop mental health.

We can have different types of mental problems. Such as mood disorder, depressive disorder, anxiety disorder etc. Drug addiction is a mental disorder. Some have suicidal thoughts; He thinks this is also a kind of mental problem. National Institute of Mental Health Professor Dr. Bidhan Ranjan Roy said that not only adults are affected by mental problems, but children can also be affected by mental disorders. So we all need to be aware of this. We should take this mental issue seriously.

Only two percent of society has serious mental illness, most of which are not serious. As a result, most of them do not seek medical attention. But that’s not right. But if one can figure out his problem and fix himself and does not harm the society, himself and the country, then he should not go to the doctor. In the case of the rest, this psychiatrist thinks that the concerned doctor should be consulted.