Event

Observance of the World Mental Health Day 2020 

As every year, on the occasion of the celebration of World Mental Health Day-2020 on October 10, a special program was taken up at the joint initiative of the Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh Clinical Psychology Society and National Trauma Counseling Center, Ministry of Women and Child Affairs.

The theme of this year's World Mental Health Day is "Mental Health for All: Greater Investment – Greater Access." On this occasion, a webinar and e-dissemination was organized on 10 October 2020. The inaugural webinar titled "Mental Health for All: Learning from Covid-19" was held at 11:00 am. Honorable State Minister for Women and Children Affairs of the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh Begum Fazilatun Nesa Indira, MP was the chief guest at the webinar. She said that we need to increase investment for healthy mental health which will bring positive change in the individual, society and community and the government in Bangladesh is also committed to ensure mental health for all. Honorable Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University Prof. Dr. Md. Akhtaruzzaman and Bangladesh representative of the World Health Organization Mr. Vardhan Jung Ranawere present as the special guests. And the Bangladesh representative of the World Health Organization. Vardhan Jung Rana said that Covid-19 is also affecting our mental health, so we need to increase the allocation in the mental health sector and all of us have to work together in this regard. The keynote speaker was Mst. Nazma Khatun; Associate Professor and Chairperson of Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Dhaka. She said that clinical psychologists in Bangladesh have been working very efficiently since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. Although 22 clinical psychologists are employed under the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs, there is still area for clinical psychologists to work and according to him, the Department of Clinical Psychology, Dhaka of University and the Clinical Psychology Society of Bangladesh are keen to work with the government of Bangladesh on mental health. The webinarwas presided over by Md. Mahmudur Rahman, the president of the Clinical Psychology Society in Bangladesh.

At 12.15 pm, an e-dissemination on Emergency Mental Health Assistance ঃ Research, Services and Development in Covid-19 pandemic was held. Mr. Kamal Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury, Associate Professor, Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Dhaka presided over the function. In the e-dissemination, the speakers gave speeches and presentations on "Emergency Mental Health Assistance in Covid-19 Epidemic - Research, Services and Development". Clinical Psychologists are conducting research on the provision of mental health in the Covid-19 pandemic so that the information of this research in any future pandemic can be used in the mental health of the people in our country.