Bangladeshi youth organization Mindspace; Mental health awareness launched an emergency psychological crisis hotline service named VENT on October 25.
Anyone in the country can dial 09678-678-778 from 6pm-6am every day and speak to trained volunteers over the phone.
The organization came forward amid the Covid-19 pandemic and tried to break the stigma surrounding mental health in light of the numerous suicides.
According to Mindspace, VENT is the bridge to open discussions and was set up with the aim of creating a safe space for everyone without any bias, prejudice or condescension.
Mehrin Simran, founder of Mindspace, said: "We can be surrounded by hundreds of people every day. But it is our deepest thought that requires the safest shelter. Mindspace was created to be that safe space and now VENT is active to be your support — the one you can rely on without hesitation."
All volunteers of the hotline are trained by clinical psychologist Ismat Jahan, head of the National Trauma Counseling Centre of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs.