Bangladesh ECD Network in collaboration with BRAC Institute of Education and Development organised a stakeholder consultation on the Need Assessment on Mental Health of the Parents of Primary School Going Students at the auditorium of BRAC Centre Inn, Dhaka on Tuesday.
Tania Khan, director general of Bangladesh Shishu Academy, graced the consultation as chief guest, said a press release on Wednesday.
Emphasising the importance of addressing mental health issues particularly for parents and children, she urged all stakeholders for working together for mental health and other issues related to children and parents.
She also informed that the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs has taken initiative to establish a children directorate. In addition, she also mentioned that it would have been appropriate to form a commission for children affairs like other reform commissions of the government.聽聽
Attending the event as special guest, Muhammad Musa, senior adviser, BRAC IED, opined that this study opened the scope for further study on mental health of parents, caregivers and children and for designing programmes to address the mental health issues.聽聽聽聽聽聽聽
Dr Helal Uddin Ahmed, associate professor of child adolescent and family psychiatry at National Institute of Mental Health, said that mental health should be seen in a comprehensive approach. He pointed out that the roles of parents and guardian were crucial in shaping mental health of the children and therefore, the parents and guardians of all levels should behave sensibly in front of children.聽聽聽
Manzoor Ahmed, chairperson of Bangladesh ECD Network, presided over the consultation. He stressed on the need of institutional support on mental health and wellbeing of parents and children.
Farida Akhtar, child psychologist, consultant and steering committee member of BEN, presented the findings from the Need Assessment on Mental Health of the Parents of Primary School Going Students.