Inauguration of '6th Bangladesh Clinical Psychology Conference' at Dhaka University

The '6th Bangladesh Clinical Psychology Conference' inauguration was held at the Senate Building of Dhaka University to create awareness about mental health by emphasizing community-based mental health services. 

Bangladesh Clinical Psychology Society and Dhaka University's Department of Clinical Psychology jointly organized it with the theme 'Community-based mental health: the key to reducing the gap in mental health care in Bangladesh' today on Friday. 

Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Akhtaruzzaman was present as the chief guest at the event. The line director of the non-communicable disease control program of the Department of Health was present as a special guest. Md. Robet Amin, Dean of Faculty of Biology, Dhaka University. Md. Mahbub Hasan, Sanjida Foundation CEO Zahida Fiza Kabir and former president of the British Psychological Society  Graham Powell, General Secretary of Bangladesh Clinical Psychology Society, Shahnur Hossain were also present at the conference. 

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dr. Md. Akhtaruzzaman, inaugurated the program. He said that today's conference is very important because various mental health problems have recently been noticed. Our health is a combination of physical and mental health. So, we can never be healthy without mental health. 

Pointing out the importance of community-based mental health services, the Vice-Chancellor said, "We need to emphasize community-based mental health services to eliminate the gap between our patients and doctors. Because if the number of doctors can be brought under training, then the doctors will provide proper treatment."

President of Bangladesh Clinical Psychology Society (BCPS)Md. Kamruzzaman Majumdar presided over the event. He said that mental health problems are constantly increasing in Bangladesh. 18.7% of adults and 12.6% of children in the country suffer from mental disorders. 

It should be noted that the Department of Clinical Psychology of Dhaka University and the Bangladesh Clinical Psychology Society have been continuously working towards mental health awareness since 1997.