4.6pc Bangladesh population suffering from depression

The World Health Day 2017 will be observed tomorrow in the country and elsewhere across the world through holding different programmes.

The theme of the day is “Depression: Let’s talk”. The overall goal of this year’s World Health Day campaign is that more people with depression, in all countries, seek and get help.

Depression affects people of all ages, from all walks of life, in all countries. It causes mental anguish and adversely impacts people’s ability to carry out even the simplest everyday tasks. There may sometimes be devastating consequences for relationships with family and friends and the ability to earn a living.

To mark the day, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Directorate General of Health Service and various non-government organizations have taken elaborate programmes including seminar, publishing souvenir and supplementary in national dailies, exhibition of health education, screening of health-related film and different cultural programmes in Dhaka and elsewhere.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammad Nasim, also Awami League Presidium Member, will inaugurate the national level programme at Osmani Memorial Auditorium here at 10 am tomorrow.

Nasim says, “According to a survey conducted jointly by National Institute of Mental Health and WHO, 4.6 percent of Bangladesh’s adult population is suffering from depression.”

“Which means,  7.36 million of the total population are suffering from depression.”

“Depression can be seen at any age, even among children. But mostly, the symptoms of depression become evident between 30 and 40,” the minister said.

He also said people from the age group of 15 to 18 and over 60 are vulnerable to falling in depression.

He cited long-term disease, poverty, unemployment, loneliness, issues in family and relations, and pregnancy as the reasons behind the disease.

The minister said there were scientific ways to treat the disease. “The patients have to follow the psychiatrists’ prescriptions with patience. The patients can return to normal life in most cases of treatment,” he said.

He said medicine and psychotherapy are both necessary for cure from depression.

Under the direct supervision of the district and upazila health offices,the day will also be observed at the district and upazila levels throughout the country.

The World Health Day is a global health awareness day observed every year on April 7, under the World Health Day, celebrated on 7 April every year to mark the anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO), provides us with a unique opportunity to mobilize action around a specific health topic of concern to people all over the world.

Source(s): BSS, bdnews24.com