Executive Director’s Seminar on Mental Wellbeing
Around 49% of mothers in Bangladesh are facing mental health disorders. However, there is still a prevailing stigma and misconceptions regarding mental health. A seminar titled 'Have you ever looked for someone who cares about your well-being’? The Journey of establishing ‘Well-being corners’ revealed this data on 1 November 2023 at icddr,b Sasakawa Auditorium. Aniqa Tasnim Hossain, Assistant Scientist MCHD, and Dr Mohammad Sohel Shomik, Deputy Project Coordinator at the Nutrition Research Division, presented at the seminar. The event commenced with an opening speech by Dr Tahmeed Ahmed, Executive Director of icddr,b.
Both of the presenters highlighted that the Prevalence of any form of mental disorder is high in Bangladesh BUT stigma and misconception regarding mental health still exist, we do not have sufficient psychologists and psychiatrists
Therefore, Under the leadership of the Non-Communicable Disease Control (NCDC) in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, icddr,b has established 'Well-being Corners' at 4 Upazila and District Hospitals at Dinajpur and Netrokona . From September 2022 to October 2023, over 2500 counseling sessions have been provided through the Well-being Corners.
