Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has said mental health protection is an important component of the government’s public welfare-oriented health policy, stressing that people experiencing mental health problems must be heard, supported and given easier access to necessary assistance rather than being neglected or isolated.
He made the remarks in a message issued on Friday, October 9, marking World Mental Health Day 2026, which will be observed on October 10.
The prime minister said health did not simply mean appearing healthy or being free from disease. Rather, it meant physical, mental, spiritual and social well-being. Mental health, he added, must never be overlooked.
Referring to this year’s World Mental Health Day theme, “Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change,” Tarique said it highlighted the importance of recognising people’s experiences, feelings and opinions in mental healthcare. Bangladesh, along with the rest of the world, will observe the day with due importance, he added.
Tarique said mental health was not merely a matter of medical treatment but was closely connected to human dignity and the overall well-being of families, society and the state. He called for collective efforts to eliminate fear, shame, superstition and discrimination associated with mental illness.
“Instead of neglecting or isolating anyone because of their mental health problems, we must listen to them, stand beside them and make access to necessary support easier,” he said.
He added that listening to the experiences and feelings of people living with mental health conditions and acknowledging them with dignity were prerequisites for meaningful change.
The prime minister said the government wanted to build a healthcare system that gave equal importance to mental well-being, social security and improved quality of life alongside physical health.
Guided by this approach, the government was working to bring mental health services closer to people by expanding services at the upazila and primary healthcare levels, developing skilled professionals, establishing effective referral systems and extending technology-based counselling services.
Describing mental health as a major public health challenge worldwide, Tarique said many people in Bangladesh also experienced mental health problems but remained deprived of proper treatment and support because of social stigma, limited awareness, inadequate access to services and a shortage of trained professionals.
He said the government had undertaken various initiatives to improve the accessibility, quality and capacity of mental health services.
To reach marginalised communities, initiatives had been taken to establish integrated referral systems at the upazila and district levels and expand tele-counselling services, he said.
The government also planned to train doctors working at the upazila level in mental healthcare, strengthen the capabilities of mental health professionals at public hospitals and provide relevant training to a large number of health workers.
The prime minister said the government was also giving due attention to the mental health of pregnant women, the well-being of children and adolescents, and school-based mental health services.
Addressing mental health professionals, Tarique urged them to listen to people attentively and sincerely, offer support with empathy, and work to ensure access to necessary treatment and assistance.
He also emphasised the need to raise awareness about mental health among families, educational institutions, the media and people from all sections of society.
Tarique said coordinated efforts by the government, healthcare professionals, families, educational institutions and society could help build a mentally healthy Bangladesh where no one would hesitate to discuss mental health, feel ashamed to seek help or feel alone and neglected.
The government wanted to build a welfare-oriented, safe and humane Bangladesh where everyone could lead a healthy and meaningful life with dignity, hope and opportunity, he added.
Concluding his message, the prime minister wished good health and well-being for people in Bangladesh and around the world and expressed hope for the overall success of World Mental Health Day 2026.
