[accessbangla] FW: Meaningful Celebration of World Mental Health Day 2008 from a Social and Human Rights perspective for the first time in Bangladesh
- From: "Sayema Chowdhury" <Sayema.Chowdhury@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "Mahbub Kabir" <mahbub.lcdbangla@xxxxxxxxx>, <zamanrafiqbd@xxxxxxxxx>, <zahid.nfowd@xxxxxxxxx>, <accessbangla@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, <cdd@xxxxxxxxxx>, <amlan89@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, <utsabd@xxxxxxxxx>, <grambangla@xxxxxxxxx>, <fazlul.azim@xxxxxxxxxx>, <mtanvir.aspbae@xxxxxxxxx>, <anamul.haque@xxxxxxxxxx>, <cbpb@xxxxxxxx>, <julian@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, <cdc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, <ashraf.dowla@xxxxxxxxx>, <gbar@xxxxxxx>, <nkabir@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, <loveluaab@xxxxxxxxx>, <iswr@xxxxxxxxxxx>, <duregsr@xxxxxxxxxx>, <baaigm@xxxxxxxxxx>, <suja5102@xxxxxxxxx>, <shahadatparvez@xxxxxxxxx>, <ifty1990@xxxxxxxxx>, <ganiadam@xxxxxxxxx>, <bmsf@xxxxxxxxx>, <paulmohua@xxxxxxxxx>, <awf@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, <rownak@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, <DISABILITYGROUP@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, <SHIRSHBERG@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Rajendra K R" <rajendra@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Gopal Mitra, Manager - Inclusive Education" <gopal.mitra@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Programme Officer - LCI South Asia" <barkha.henry@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 15 Oct 2008 21:44:25 +0600
Meaningful Celebration of World Mental Health Day 2008 from a Social and Human
Rights perspective for the
first time in Bangladesh
10th October 2008 was the 16th World Mental Health Day. 'Making Mental Health a
Global Priority Scaling up Services through Citizen Advocacy and Action' was
declared as the day's theme by the United Nations.
Ministry of Health and other concerned authority of Government of Bangladesh
observe the day officially every year and dominant discourses on mental illness
fortifies through a pro-clinical approach. Alternatively, for the first time in
Bangladesh Disability and Enabling Environment theme of Action Aid Bangladesh
took several initiatives to observe the Day upholding social and human rights
perspective as opposed to dominant clinical viewpoint. The initiatives include:
Roundtable Discussion at Jatiya Press Club (VIP Lounge), Poster Launching and
circulating Special Supplement in the Daily Prothom Alo on the Day.
Action Aid Bangladesh, National Disability Forum and Welfare Society for Mental
Health & Rehabilitation, a parent-run organization of people with mental health
needs jointly organized the roundtable discussion at Jatiya Press Club (VIP
Lounge) on 10th October marking the Day. A collaborative exercise that involved
participation of leading psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, government
officials, development practitioners, researchers, academicians and family
members of persons with mental health needs made the roundtable lively and
consequential. Mr. A. M. M. Nasiruddin , Secretary to Ministry of Health and
Family Affairs of the government joined the roundtable voluntarily to express
his solidarity to the initiative. The Director General of Social Service
directorate of the government Dr. Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury graced the
occasion as chief guest. Country director of ActionAid Bangladesh Ms. Farah
Kabir presided over the discussion while President of National Disability Forum
Mr. Khandker Johurul Alam played the role of moderator. Mr. Badrul Mannan,
General Secretary, Welfare Society for Mental Health and Rehabilitation
presented the key note paper.
Among the eminent participants, renowned psychiatrist Dr. Nazimuddoulah
Chowdhury and renowned writer and psychiatrist Dr. Anowara Syed Huq joined the
discussion as special guests. Dr. Mahmudur Rahman, Professor, Department of
Clinical Psychology, Dhaka University; Dr. A S M Atiqur Rahman; Professor,
Institute of Social Welfare and Research, Dhaka University; Mr.Mahbub Kabir,
Director, Leonard Cheshire Disability Bangladesh; Dr. Slahuddin Quser;
Associate Professor; BSMMU and Advocate Fayazuddin Ahmad, Human Rights lawyer
and Researcher discussed on the keynote paper as panel discussants. Most of the
speakers at the discussion emphasized the importance of keeping the age-old
familial values and the legacy of the joint family intact to reduce the
incidence of all sorts of mental illness. Speakers at the roundtable demanded
cancellation of Lunatic Act 1912. They called for introducing mental health
education in the curriculum from primary to university level to make people
aware of mental health.
Mr. A. M. M. Nasiruddin emphasized on prioritizing the mental health in the
upcoming Health Policy and taking immediate steps to get the specific database
on the mentally ill people of the country. He also made commitment to carry on
with the agenda of replacing the colonial Lunacy Act, 1912 with a contemporary
Mental Health Act. He sought suggestions and recommendations from everyone on
how to properly amend the outdated Act.
Dr. Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury pinpointed on the social aspects of mental
health that people's attitude towards the mentally ill persons should be
changed. Upholding our age-old social values and community feelings may ensure
a life with dignity for the people with mental health needs and their families,
he added.
Ms. Farah Kabir emphasized on the role of media for promoting positive images
of mentally ill people and for raising mass awareness on the mental health
rights in her speech as chair. She added that, people with mental health needs
should be considered as a part of human diversity and their human rights need
to be protected.
Contribution of the variant stakeholders came through their active
participation in the discussion session. Their comments and critique have
significantly enhanced the eminence of the event. Their insights and
suggestions enriched the roundtable discussion.
Two posters were launched at the event and a special supplement was circulated
in the Daily Prothom Alo on the same day to signify the day.
The roundtable attracted huge media coverage that contributed in enhancing the
outreach particularly with regard to the mental health rights initiative.
Apart from the notified three initiatives, Disability and Enabling Environment
theme of ActionAid Bangladesh supported Channel I to broadcast a TV show 'O Mon
Mon Re' on 11th October 2008. Experts from diverse background and prominent
media personalities shared their views in the show. This show is continuing
since 2005 on the same channel on the occasion of World Mental Health Day.
Objective of this TV show is to aware the mass on mental health.
Sayema Chowdhury
Programme Officer - Disabilty & Enabling Environment Theme
ActionAid Bangladesh
Tel: +880 2 9894331, +880 2 9894216, +880 2 98837796-8
Fax: +880 2 8815087
Mobile: +88 01712011454
sayema.chowdhury@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:sayema.chowdhury@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
www.actionaid.org
End poverty. Together.
ActionAid is an international anti-poverty
Agency working in over 40 countries, taking
Sides with poor people to end poverty and
Injustice together
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