“Stigma related to mental illness is a widespread issue in Bangladesh and a major impediment towards help-seeking behavior and a high percentage of individuals with mental disorders do not get appropriate treatment. The patients and family members often experience fear, loss, lowered family esteem, shame, secrecy, distrust, anger, inability to cope, hopelessness, helplessness and could be directly blamed for causing the illness.
Stigma leads to discriminations where individuals with mental disorders and their family members may be excluded from interpersonal relationships and public life and legal, economic, social and institutional rights and responsibilities may be denied.”
“Stigma towards mental illness and mental health treatment is widespread within Bangladesh. Many attribute symptoms to possession by evil spirits. A high proportion of sufferers, particularly those in rural areas, seek help from local traditional and spiritual healers.”
“High social stigma attached to mental illness also affects help-seeking behaviour. Consequently, mentally ill persons suffer in silence, with social isolation and discrimination. Morbidity from psychiatric illness remains high and is seldom regarded as a public health concern. Widespread stigma towards the mentally ill in Bangladesh is attributable to superstitions surrounding causation of mental illness. Mental disorder is perceived to be a consequence of possession by evil spirits, as opposed to biological or psychological mechanisms, leading to neglect and abuse of those with mental illness.”
“‘We recently provided mental health support to some 11,000 people mostly women and adolescents at the community level during the pandemic,’ Rifat Sharmin, a clinical psychologist at the Community empowerment program of BRAC, a non-government group, told Anadolu Agency. ‘We learnt from the field experience that it still remains a stigma and taboo especially in rural Bangladesh. And it is also a tough job to provide support to patients.’ She said the group faced immense discomfort and non-cooperation from victims’ family and the public. ‘They don’t want to share their personal issue of distressed and mental problems fearing to be stigmatized in society, whereas community leaders also create barriers,’ she said. ‘If we don’t provide proper mental health treatment and support during childhood then it would become difficult in adulthood for patients.’”
“Usually, society labels mental health problems as ‘madness’ and imposes a social stigma, which causes non-disclosure of the problem on the part of the informant and their family. The community’s perspective on this matter constitutes a restriction on the openness of society, which needs to be addressed delicately. In Bangladesh, as in many other underdeveloped nations, mentally ill people are not adequately understood by the community. Due to the lack of social acceptance, families frequently struggle with regard to telling the wider community about any mental health concerns that affect their family members.”
“Mental health is a taboo in Bangladeshi society and most people afflicted with such ailments usually do not seek medical help. Perhaps, it is the village shaman who is consulted first when people suspect one is suffering from mental ailments. Due to social stigma, most mental health sufferers never get to meet a specialized doctor.”
“There is still significant stigma associated with mental health conditions, so often the family has to hide if they have a loved one who is experiencing mental health issues or has a diagnosis because the cultural impact is such that, people often believe as though it is contagious. It’s not just the person with the mental health condition that gets stigmatized but it’s the whole family and this makes it even more challenging to reach out for services.”
“People go to traditional faith healers because they believe they have no other choice. If you have malaria you know the doctor can help you, but no one knows that there are doctors who can treat mental health crises. There are thousands of malpractices happening, such as burying people up to their neck in soil and leaving them for 48 hours to purge out the demons.”
“Referrals of patients with mental illness to mental health specialists by primary care physicians or other healthcare providers are near non-existent. Superstitious beliefs regarding the causation of psychiatric disorders prevent help-seeking from mental health services. Psychiatric disorders, including psychotic disorders, are commonly perceived as being triggered by supernatural influences, with the cure often sought from traditional healers. Although these traditional practices have been shown to benefit outcomes for some mental health conditions, these practices show little to no benefit for psychotic illness and are a wasteful economic cost to the majority low-income population. Some practices may also be physically and psychologically harmful, further complicating prognosis.”
“Knowledge of and access to specialty mental health care is challenging due to very low designated government resources, few specialty providers and concentration of resources in large urban centers. A number of advocacy groups, including the Shuchona Foundation, Moner Bondhu, Innovation for Wellbeing, and Walk to Serenity are working to reduce stigma, raise awareness about mental disorders and promote mental health literacy. These organizations disseminate messages via radio, TV, and written and electronic media. The Center for Disability in Development and the Directorate General of Health Services function as coordinating centers, supporting advocacy groups and communities to strengthen their ability to promote understanding and help for their citizens with mental illnesses and other disabilities.”