EVERY year on October 10, the world observes World Mental Health Day, raising awareness of mental health issues and expanding national and international support for mental health. ‘Birth is a protected future; be enlightened’ is the theme for Mental Health Day 2025. This year, the day is being celebrated at both public and private levels in Bangladesh. It holds great significance in addressing mental health and the challenges surrounding it. The celebration of Mental Health Day raises public awareness about mental illness in the same way that other days raise awareness about physical illnesses.
According to the World Health Organization, mental health refers to a person’s psychological state in which they can realise their abilities, cope with the normal stresses of life, and work productively and effectively, thereby making a meaningful contribution to society. It affects a person’s thoughts, emotions, feelings and behaviour. How an individual deals with psychological stress, builds social relations with others, and makes various decisions in life depends on their mental health. A person’s mental health is their special human right. When mental health is sound, a person can recognise their self-worth, remain free from stress and frustration, maintain healthy social relations, and properly fulfil their work and responsibilities.
Mental health is now considered not only a matter of treatment in Bangladesh but also a human and legal right. Ensuring mental health is the responsibility of the state and the government, and it is recognised as a basic human right of citizens. Although developed countries have achieved comparative success through various initiatives to ensure citizens’ mental health, in developing countries, mental health remains neglected and often surrounded by superstition, despite the advances of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and artificial intelligence.
To ensure mental health in Bangladesh — including safeguarding the basic rights of mental health patients, developing and regulating mental health care systems, ensuring proper treatment and protection during illness, and guaranteeing patient consent in medical decisions — the government enacted the Mental Health Act 2018. This law aims to increase awareness and implement specific policies and regulations for mental health care in the country.
The primary objective of the Mental Health Act 2018 is to set guiding principles for the governance of mental health care. This includes establishing mental health care facilities and overseeing their operations, assessing individuals with mental illness, and ensuring their hospitalisation and treatment. The law calls for the establishment of a national commission to supervise and evaluate mental health care initiatives. Alongside this Act, a 2022 gazette introduced the National Mental Health Policy, aimed at advancing mental health services in Bangladesh. A draft known as the Mental Health Act 2016 is said to have served as the basis for the 2018 legislation.
However, the goals of this law are not being fully realised for several reasons. Public awareness of the legislation remains low, and law enforcement and medical personnel have not received adequate training. In addition, there are relatively few registered mental health centres and hospitals in such a densely populated country, and the number of mental health specialists is extremely limited. The administrative framework required to implement the law locally is lacking, as is sufficient state budget allocation for the mental health sector. Social superstitions also remain a significant barrier to the effective implementation of the Mental Health Act 2018.
Nevertheless, legal aid for mental health protection in Bangladesh can be obtained by following certain procedures:
a) The government provides free legal aid to economically disadvantaged individuals through the National Legal Aid Agency. A mental health patient or their guardian may apply for government assistance in criminal, civil or family proceedings under the Legal Aid Services Act 2000. Applications must be made to the District Legal Aid Office via the District Judge’s Court. Assistance can also be sought by dialling 16430.
b) Social services divisions of government hospitals, including the National Institute of Mental Health or medical college hospitals, can assist patients with legal issues. If a patient is being treated inhumanely or under duress, they or their family may request support.
c) Complaints may be submitted to the National Human Rights Commission if a mental patient’s legal rights are violated, including through physical abuse, coercion, or withholding of medication.
d) Numerous non-governmental human rights organisations in Bangladesh offer legal aid in various forms. Notable examples include BLAST, the Law and Arbitration Centre, BRAC Human Rights and Legal Aid Services.
In order to address mental health issues more broadly, the following actions are also required:
a) Awareness should be spread through schools, colleges, universities, mosques, the media and social media. This will help people become more conscious of mental health, overcome superstitions, and accept mental illness as a socially legitimate medical issue.
b) Mental health professionals should be appointed in every district of Bangladesh. There should also be more mental health clinics and institutions. Access to online or mobile-based tele-counselling can be expanded to make services more widely available.
c) Families and communities play a crucial role in maintaining mental health. Mental health patients require love and empathy. Family support, cooperation and affection are essential in treatment.
d) Every workplace and educational institution should appoint mental health specialists. Specialised training in mental health, workplace stress management, and student stress and anxiety management should be introduced.
e) Regular exercise, a healthy diet, sufficient sleep, prayer and meditation are all beneficial for mental health. Social interaction and meaningful conversations also help reduce mental stress and support psychological well-being.
f) Above all, the government must increase funding for the mental health sector, set long-term goals, and ensure the proper implementation of the Mental Health Act 2018.
Access to mental health care is a fundamental human right. Mental health patients must be treated with respect, privacy and dignity, and must comply with admission regulations. No one is permitted to house a person with mental illness in a residential setting without government approval. Treatment instructions may also be issued by the field court. Special consideration is given during the trial of individuals with mental disabilities who commit offences.
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities states that people with mental illnesses are entitled to full civil rights and to be treated with dignity. They must not face discrimination in employment, housing, education or access to social benefits; in other words, workplace equality must be upheld.
Through the combined efforts of the Mental Health Act and the National Mental Health Policy 2022, the mental health rights of the people of Bangladesh can be safeguarded. We must remember that everyone is entitled to mental health care. Now is the time to address the mental health crisis and ensure future access to more advanced and inclusive mental health services.
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Dr Md Raziur Rahman is chairman and associate professor of law at Gopalganj Science and Technology University. Dr Md Abu Saleh is assistant professor of political science at Gopalganj Science and Technology University.
