As a nation, our priorities have been clear. Riding the wave of growth, this tiny country has come far from where we began.
To that end, how we distribute our resources reflects what we deem as important to our growth. Which is why it’s remarkable to see that only 0.5% of the total health budget of our country is allocated to mental health.
There is less than one professional in the field for every 100,000 people needing mental health care. If the country propels forward on the backs of its workforce, then these statistics are saddening.
Due to the lack of research in the region on how deteriorating mental health can impact workforce productivity, it is difficult to make a case for the fact that mental health and socio-economic development go hand-in-hand.
But research work done throughout the globe has shown that the indirect costs of poor mental health are much higher than the direct costs. From the loss of productivity to higher rates of absenteeism, the burnout from an unhealthy mind has impacted not only on an individual level but also at a national level.
Mental illnesses can be hereditary, stemmed from external influences or chemical imbalances in the brain, and they can also stem from physical illnesses. Bangladesh’s culture surrounding health has always been focused on the somatic, but while we’re fixated on treating physical illnesses, the impact of treatment on our minds often goes unnoticed.
Abuse, high rates of poverty, and unemployment -- factors too close to home for us, despite the progress -- also increase the risks of declining mental health. Further propagating the issue is the rise of substance abuse stemming from such conditions, which exacerbates the situation.
Lack of facilities, a properly trained and sufficient workforce, poor allocation of financial resources, and social stigma, are the main challenges on the path to providing adequate mental health care.
The truth we need to face is that the success of the labour market, and thus, the success of the nation itself, is closely tied with the workforce’s mental health. As such, investment in mental health is a public health priority.
To date, there has not been a prolific assessment of the economic consequences of mental disorders. If such kind of research were carried out, it would be possible to identify cost-effective strategies to combat the burden.
The boons of prioritizing mental health are manifold. By making resources available and accessible for the population, not only do we set out to create a mentally healthy nation, but a more productive and efficient workforce which can take our country to even greater heights than imaginable.
While an overhaul in the health sector by incorporating treatment of mental illnesses is essential, the process is an arduous one, and the project falls to the governing agencies to take up. What can be done, then, to begin addressing the issue?
It can start with the institutions which make up our economy. Schools in Bangladesh have long had counsellors, but they aren’t equipped with handling the effects of the stressors students are exposed to.
Opening up to others is never an easy task, but the first step could be to provide training on psychosocial counseling to the administrators or counsellors. It is paramount to create an atmosphere of understanding and kindness, where students can trust their counsellors and talk to them about their problems.
The BRAC Institute of Educational Development (BIED) has piloted a model which targets vulnerable children in secondary schools. Taking into consideration the mental wellbeing of school-going children, the counsellors provide psychosocial aid in order to strengthen their capacities and make them socially aware.
In ways such as these, children are not only learning to be students, but also strong individuals. Replication of such models and readjusting them to work in urban spaces and all strata of society can benefit the generation to come in a multitude of ways.
Offices and other workplaces may also introduce units where employees can share their troubles, regarding work or otherwise. If employees feel like their organization makes their wellbeing a priority and gives them a sense of agency, the result will manifest in the way they work and the work they do.
To that end, a phone call could go a long way. BRAC is one of the organizations to have taken steps to ensure that employees have a safe space to voice their troubles both in person or through a phone call.
By having a psychosocial unit housed within the human resources department right at the office premises, employees know that survival of the everyday does not have to be done in silence and that peace of mind is a call away.
The organization has placed stations throughout the offices as part of a month-long campaign on mental health, which commenced on World Mental Health Day. Employees can write down their worries and concerns onto a piece of paper and drop them into the allotted boxes. The psychosocial unit will eventually work towards finding solutions. Initiatives such as these show that someone is there to listen.
If we take the country’s growth as seriously as it should be taken, then strengthening the workforce from all angles is paramount. Mental health is a large component of that. And while we push for a better framework from the authorities, we can start creating little steps to get there ourselves. It all starts with lending an ear to listen.
Luba Khalili is Deputy Manager, Communications, BRAC.
