ঢাকা
৭ই নভেম্বর, ২০২৪ খ্রিস্টাব্দ
দুপুর ১:১৪
logo
প্রকাশিত : অক্টোবর ১০, ২০২৪

Ensuring mental health services in the workplace

It is necessary to ensure mental health care for those serving at-risk populations. Along with promoting safe work environments, mental health support must also be prioritized. According to World Health organisation (WHO) currently, over 30 million people in the country need mental health services.

The speakers said this in a discussion meeting on the occasion of celebrating the World Mental Health Day organized by the Ahsania Mission Female Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Center, at the meeting room of the Health Sector, Dhaka Ahsania Mission in the capital's Shyamoli, Dhaka, on Wednesday, October 9, at 11 am. The theme for this year is “Mental health at work: it’s time to prioritize.” Speakers at the event included Dr. Shamsuddin Ilias, Secretary General of the Bangladesh Psychological Society (BPA), as well as Fatima Tasreen Mitu and Mahmuda Alam, counselors from the Ahsania Mission Female Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Center. The session was moderated by Rakhi Ganguly, Senior Psychologist at the Dhaka Ahsania Mission Health Sector.

The meeting was presided over by Iqbal Masud, director of the health and WASH sector of the DAM.

The speakers mentioned the importance for the strong link between workplace conditions and mental health. A supportive work environment with clear purpose and persistence can enhance productivity. However, factors like employee discrimination, poor working conditions, or limited autonomy can pose risks to mental health. Depression and anxiety alone lead to the loss of about 12 billion workdays annually according to WHO. Therefore, managers should be trained to recognize and manage workplace stress. Creating a healthy work environment through open dialogs on mental health, ensuring adequate breaks, completing tasks within office hours, organizing mental health workshops, and implementing support programs can make a significant difference.

The speakers also pointed out that professionals working in drug treatment centers, rehabilitation facilities, and mental health care settings face higher mental health risks. This makes it even more important to address mental health in these workplaces. Ensuring good mental health practices at work will not only improve well-being but also enhance job performance.

It is worth noting that a 2018-19 survey by the National Institute of Mental Health reported that 17% of adults suffer from mild to severe mental health problems (19% of women and 15% of men), while 13.6% of the population under 18 is affected. Additionally, the country has fewer than 1,000 mental health professionals, resulting in a treatment gap of over 90% across all age groups.

logo
Published by Chairman-Editorial Board Professor Dr. Jobaer Alam
Editor in Charge: Tapash Ray Sarker
Cell: +880 1736 786915
The Bangladesh Today is one of the most Popular English National Daily Newspaper,which is serving the nation for last 22 years.It has begun with commitment of fearless, investigative, informative and independent journalism. This online portal has started to provide real time news updates with maximum use of modern technology from 2002. Latest & breaking news of home and abroad, entertainment, lifestyle, special reports, politics, economics, culture, education, information technology, health, sports, columns and features are included in it. A genius team of The Bangladesh Today has been built with a group of country’s energetic and talented journalists. We are trying to build a bridge with Bengalis around the world and adding a new dimension to news . The home of materialistic news.
BTTC Building (Level #3), 270/B, Tejgaon (I/A), Dhaka-1208
Mobile +880 2-8878026, +880 1736 786915, +880 1300 126 624
E-Mail: tbtbangla@gmail.com (online), ads@thebangladeshtoday.com (adv) newsbangla@thebangladeshtoday.com (Print)
All rights reserved by Bangladesh Today. It is illegal to publish any text, images or content of this website elsewhere without permission.
Copyright © 2024 The Bangladesh Today. All Rights Reserved.
Host by
linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram