Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammed Nasim stressed upon ensuring mental health services for the people at the grassroots.
Speaking at the inaugural function of the 6th Asian Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) Conference held at Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban, University of Dhaka (DU) on Saturday, the minister said “The government has been working tirelessly to improve the health facilities across the country, including the mental health.”
Nasim said to protect and ensure the rights of mentally ill people, the cabinet has already approved the ‘Mental Health Act- 2018.
Urging all concerned to play a responsible role for ensuring mental health services for the people at the grassroots, Nasim said, “Mentally sick people are part of the society and it is the responsibility of all to stand beside them.”
Department of Clinical Psychology, DU, Bangladesh Clinical Psychology Society, Nasirullah Psychotherapy Unit (NPU) and Asian Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Association (ACBTA) are jointly orgnising the conference.
DU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr M Akhtaruzzaman presided over the programme while Dean of Faculty of Biological Sciences, DU Prof Dr Imdadul Haque and Chairperson of Department of Clinical Psychology, DU were present, among others.
The aim of the conference under the theme, ‘Mental Health Gap in Asian Countries: Scope of CBT’ is to gather scholars of this field to exchange their experiences, share their researches and discuss the future of CBT.
Around 600 participants from home and abroad — America, Canada, India, Nepal, German, Britain, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore and host Bangladesh– are taking part in the conference.
