President, PM call for mental healthcare for all

World Mental Health Day will be observed tomorrow with this year's theme "Lived experiences heard: real voices, real change". The President and prime minister have issued separate messages on the eve of the day.
This year's theme highlights the importance of listening to people with mental health conditions and involving them in decisions affecting their lives.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), people with lived experience should have a meaningful role in shaping mental health policies, designing services and evaluating care.
Their participation can help reduce stigma, protect human rights and ensure that services respond to people's actual needs.
The WHO has also called for a shift from institution-based care towards community-based mental health services that support dignity, independence and inclusion. 
President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has urged all to treat people experiencing mental health problems with empathy and respect and underscored the need for ensuring proper mental healthcare and support from families and communities. I call for strengthening mental health awareness activities at health centres and educational institutions, alongside public and private initiatives, to ensure the overall mental well-being of all citizens," he said. The President welcomed the initiative to mark the day in Bangladesh, in line with celebrations around the world.
"Mental health is an essential component of overall well-being, working capacity and quality of life," he said, adding that changing global circumstances, economic instability, social unrest, loneliness, drug addiction, family and workplace pressures and other daily challenges are having a profound impact on people's mental health.
"Therefore, mental well-being is as important as physical health," he added.
In his message, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has called for ensuring mental health care for all, emphasising the need to eliminate stigma and discrimination and expand access to mental health services across the country.
The prime minister said mental health was closely linked to human dignity, family, society and the overall well-being of the state. 
The prime minister said this year’s theme – Lived experiences heard: real voices, real change – highlights the importance of listening to the experiences, feelings and opinions of people living with mental health conditions.
He stressed the need for collective efforts to remove fear, shame, superstition and discrimination surrounding mental illness.
The prime minister also said the government was working to expand mental health services at upazila and union levels, develop skilled professionals, strengthen referral systems and extend technology-based counselling services.
He noted that many people in Bangladesh remain deprived of proper treatment and support due to social stigma, lack of awareness, limited access to services and shortage of trained personnel.
Tarique Rahman also underscored the importance of mental health care for pregnant women, children and adolescents, alongside school-based mental health services.
He urged health professionals, families, educational institutions, the media and society to work together to raise awareness and ensure that no one feels ashamed or hesitant to seek mental health support.
He expressed hope that collective efforts would help build a humane, welfare-based and safe Bangladesh where everyone could lead a healthy and dignified life.