The mentally sick need attention

WE are deeply moved by the photograph, published in our newspaper day before yesterday, of a mentally disturbed young woman chained to the waist having a bath on a riverbank. It bespeaks not only a personal tragedy for the family but also reflects on the attitude and the overall state of our society in general. Mental illness is just like any other illness. It is a debilitating affliction not only for the individual concerned but also a tragedy for the extended family.

Over the years there has been an alarming increase in the incidence of mental disorder. Because of the prevailing attitude towards this kind of illness, people often hesitate to disclose cases of individuals suffering from it. In the extreme sense, a mentally sick person may be viewed as a reflection of the "mental health of the entire family".

Considering the spread of the affliction and its overall impact on society, we need to take concrete measures to contain the phenomenon.

The administration should launch a massive awareness campaign on mental sickness alongside providing adequate medical facilities to treat it. Our health directorate will have to set up separate units for mental care in all public hospitals including upazilla health complexes. Alongside drugs and physical facilities need to be provided to this sector. There is also a serious dearth of support and technical staff. Government ought to seek external assistance through organising appropriate training programmes both within and outside the country in order to build up qualified technical staff.

We are passing through rather difficult times and the overall situation is not at all conducive to our mental health. The social unrest is on the increase, not just due to physical and material pressures but also because of opposing social standards and "conflicts" of all dimensions. That way, the stage seems set for a rise in the number of mentally sick people.