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Bangladesh: Mental Health

Mental health in Bangladesh is a hugely stigmatized and largely neglected field of medicine. Pabna mental hospital is the only specialized psychiatric hospital in the country, employing few trained psychiatrists and holding just 500 beds for the 156 million population of Bangladesh.  

It is estimated that there are only about 150 psychiatrists in the country, less than one per million people, and prevalence of mental illness effects as much as 16 percent of the population. In the largely uneducated rural areas there are few doctors, and families generally take the patient to a traditional healer or religious leader, who usually tries to exorcize the Jinn (spirits) with holy water, a tabiz (metal container holding religious script that will be worn on the body) and versus from the Koran. Families who have a mentally ill family member sometimes restrain them with ropes or chains out of desperation, lack of education and options.  

Less than 0.5% of government health budget is spent for mental health. 

  • A patient lies on a bed in Pabna Mental Hospital August 19, 2014 in Pabna, Bangladesh. Mental health in Bangladesh is largely neglected and under financed, and the stigma of mental health is huge. In rural areas there are few doctors and families generally take the patient to a traditional healer first, who usually tries to exorcize the Jinn (spirits) with holy water and versus from the Koran. Families who have a mentally ill family member sometimes tie them up out of desperation and lack of education and options. There is only one government run mental hospital with 500 beds in the entire country. Less than 0.5% of government health budget is spent for mental health. Allison Joyce/Redux
  • A patient sits on the floor as a nurse changes the TV channel in Pabna Mental Hospital August 19, 2014 in Pabna, Bangladesh. Mental health in Bangladesh is largely neglected and under financed, and the stigma of mental health is huge. In rural areas there are few doctors and families generally take the patient to a traditional healer first, who usually tries to exorcize the Jinn (spirits) with holy water and versus from the Koran. Families who have a mentally ill family member sometimes tie them up out of desperation and lack of education and options. There is only one government run mental hospital with 500 beds in the entire country. Less than 0.5% of government health budget is spent for mental health. Allison Joyce/Redux
  • Patients look through the door of their ward in Pabna Mental Hospital August 19, 2014 in Pabna, Bangladesh. Mental health in Bangladesh is largely neglected and under financed, and the stigma of mental health is huge. In rural areas there are few doctors and families generally take the patient to a traditional healer first, who usually tries to exorcize the Jinn (spirits) with holy water and versus from the Koran. Families who have a mentally ill family member sometimes tie them up out of desperation and lack of education and options. There is only one government run mental hospital with 500 beds in the entire country. Less than 0.5% of government health budget is spent for mental health. Allison Joyce/Redux
  • A patient eats lunch in Pabna Mental Hospital August 19, 2014 in Pabna, Bangladesh. Mental health in Bangladesh is largely neglected and under financed, and the stigma of mental health is huge. In rural areas there are few doctors and families generally take the patient to a traditional healer first, who usually tries to exorcize the Jinn (spirits) with holy water and versus from the Koran. Families who have a mentally ill family member sometimes tie them up out of desperation and lack of education and options. There is only one government run mental hospital with 500 beds in the entire country. Less than 0.5% of government health budget is spent for mental health. Allison Joyce/Redux
  • A patient cries as she lies on her bed in Pabna Mental Hospital August 19, 2014 in Pabna, Bangladesh. Mental health in Bangladesh is largely neglected and under financed, and the stigma of mental health is huge. In rural areas there are few doctors and families generally take the patient to a traditional healer first, who usually tries to exorcize the Jinn (spirits) with holy water and versus from the Koran. Families who have a mentally ill family member sometimes tie them up out of desperation and lack of education and options. There is only one government run mental hospital with 500 beds in the entire country. Less than 0.5% of government health budget is spent for mental health. Allison Joyce/Redux
  • A nurse changes the TV channel in Pabna Mental Hospital August 19, 2014 in Pabna, Bangladesh. Mental health in Bangladesh is largely neglected and under financed, and the stigma of mental health is huge. In rural areas there are few doctors and families generally take the patient to a traditional healer first, who usually tries to exorcize the Jinn (spirits) with holy water and versus from the Koran. Families who have a mentally ill family member sometimes tie them up out of desperation and lack of education and options. There is only one government run mental hospital with 500 beds in the entire country. Less than 0.5% of government health budget is spent for mental health. Allison Joyce/Redux
  • A nurse administers medication in Pabna Mental Hospital August 19, 2014 in Pabna, Bangladesh. Mental health in Bangladesh is largely neglected and under financed, and the stigma of mental health is huge. In rural areas there are few doctors and families generally take the patient to a traditional healer first, who usually tries to exorcize the Jinn (spirits) with holy water and versus from the Koran. Families who have a mentally ill family member sometimes tie them up out of desperation and lack of education and options. There is only one government run mental hospital with 500 beds in the entire country. Less than 0.5% of government health budget is spent for mental health. Allison Joyce/Redux
  • A tourist and his daughter visit Pabna Mental Hospital August 20, 2014 in Pabna, Bangladesh. After the doctors leave for the day it is common to see normal Bangladeshis touring the wards of the hospital. Mental health in Bangladesh is largely neglected and under financed, and the stigma of mental health is huge. In rural areas there are few doctors and families generally take the patient to a traditional healer first, who usually tries to exorcize the Jinn (spirits) with holy water and versus from the Koran. Families who have a mentally ill family member sometimes tie them up out of desperation and lack of education and options. There is only one government run mental hospital with 500 beds in the entire country. Less than 0.5% of government health budget is spent for mental health. Allison Joyce/Redux
  • 35 year old patient Barvine Akhter is seen at the intake center of Pabna Mental Hospital August 21, 2014 in Pabna, Bangladesh. Mental health in Bangladesh is largely neglected and under financed, and the stigma of mental health is huge. In rural areas there are few doctors and families generally take the patient to a traditional healer first, who usually tries to exorcize the Jinn (spirits) with holy water and versus from the Koran. Families who have a mentally ill family member sometimes tie them up out of desperation and lack of education and options. There is only one government run mental hospital with 500 beds in the entire country. Less than 0.5% of government health budget is spent for mental health. Allison Joyce/Redux
  • 35 year old patient Barvine Akhter (right) and another patient are seen at the intake center of Pabna Mental Hospital August 21, 2014 in Pabna, Bangladesh. Mental health in Bangladesh is largely neglected and under financed, and the stigma of mental health is huge. In rural areas there are few doctors and families generally take the patient to a traditional healer first, who usually tries to exorcize the Jinn (spirits) with holy water and versus from the Koran. Families who have a mentally ill family member sometimes tie them up out of desperation and lack of education and options. There is only one government run mental hospital with 500 beds in the entire country. Less than 0.5% of government health budget is spent for mental health. Allison Joyce/Redux
  • 26 year old Monirul Islam waits in a doctors office for a checkup before his family admits him to Pabna Mental Hospital August 21, 2014 in Pabna, Bangladesh. Monirul takes yaba, a methamphetamine which translates to \{quote}crazy medicine\{quote}, cough syrup and marijuana daily and often becomes violent towards his family. Mental health in Bangladesh is largely neglected and under financed, and the stigma of mental health is huge. In rural areas there are few doctors and families generally take the patient to a traditional healer first, who usually tries to exorcize the Jinn (spirits) with holy water and versus from the Koran. Families who have a mentally ill family member sometimes tie them up out of desperation and lack of education and options. There is only one government run mental hospital with 500 beds in the entire country. Less than 0.5% of government health budget is spent for mental health. Allison Joyce/Redux
  • 26 year old Monirul Islam has a medical checkup before his family admits him to Pabna Mental Hospital August 21, 2014 in Pabna, Bangladesh. Monirul takes yaba, a methamphetamine which translates to \{quote}crazy medicine\{quote}, cough syrup and marijuana daily and often becomes violent towards his family. Mental health in Bangladesh is largely neglected and under financed, and the stigma of mental health is huge. In rural areas there are few doctors and families generally take the patient to a traditional healer first, who usually tries to exorcize the Jinn (spirits) with holy water and versus from the Koran. Families who have a mentally ill family member sometimes tie them up out of desperation and lack of education and options. There is only one government run mental hospital with 500 beds in the entire country. Less than 0.5% of government health budget is spent for mental health. Allison Joyce/Redux
  • A patient is seen at the intake center of Pabna Mental Hospital August 22, 2014 in Pabna, Bangladesh. Mental health in Bangladesh is largely neglected and under financed, and the stigma of mental health is huge. In rural areas there are few doctors and families generally take the patient to a traditional healer first, who usually tries to exorcize the Jinn (spirits) with holy water and versus from the Koran. Families who have a mentally ill family member sometimes tie them up out of desperation and lack of education and options. There is only one government run mental hospital with 500 beds in the entire country. Less than 0.5% of government health budget is spent for mental health. Allison Joyce/Redux
  • 35 year old patient Barvine Akhter lies in a rice paddy outside the intake center of Pabna Mental Hospital August 21, 2014 in Pabna, Bangladesh. Mental health in Bangladesh is largely neglected and under financed, and the stigma of mental health is huge. In rural areas there are few doctors and families generally take the patient to a traditional healer first, who usually tries to exorcize the Jinn (spirits) with holy water and versus from the Koran. Families who have a mentally ill family member sometimes tie them up out of desperation and lack of education and options. There is only one government run mental hospital with 500 beds in the entire country. Less than 0.5% of government health budget is spent for mental health. Allison Joyce/Redux
  • Widow Samira Begum, who cares for her mentally ill son, 22 year old Rofikul, looks out the window of her home August 23, 2014 in Pabna, Bangladesh. Rofikul is unable to speak and often gets violent, but doctors at Pabna Mental Hospital certified him mentally fit and discharged him. His family occasionally chains him because he runs away into town and becomes violent with people, and they feel that  they have no other options. Mental health in Bangladesh is largely neglected and under financed, and the stigma of mental health is huge. In rural areas there are few doctors and families generally take the patient to a traditional healer first, who usually tries to exorcize the Jinn (spirits) with holy water and versus from the Koran. Families who have a mentally ill family member sometimes tie them up out of desperation and lack of education and options. There is only one government run mental hospital with 500 beds in the entire country. Less than 0.5% of government health budget is spent for mental health. Allison Joyce/Redux
  • 16 year old schizophrenic Tara Banu sits chained to her front porch August 24, 2014 in Pabna, Bangladesh. She tried to commit suicide by hanging herself 2 years ago and her family says she has been mentally disturbed since then. She spent 5 1/2 months at Pabna Mental Hospital where she was diagnosed with schizophrenia, and the doctors recently discharged her and sent her home telling her family that she was cured. Her family chains her because she frequently tries to run away and harm herself, and they feel that they have no other options. Mental health in Bangladesh is largely neglected and under financed, and the stigma of mental health is huge. In rural areas there are few doctors and families generally take the patient to a traditional healer first, who usually tries to exorcize the Jinn (spirits) with holy water and versus from the Koran. Families who have a mentally ill family member sometimes tie them up out of desperation and lack of education and options. There is only one government run mental hospital with 500 beds in the entire country. Less than 0.5% of government health budget is spent for mental health. Allison Joyce/Redux
  • Mentally ill 22 year old Rofikul smokes a cigarette while his legs are chained August 23, 2014 in Pabna, Bangladesh. Rofikul is unable to speak and often gets violent, but doctors at Pabna Mental Hospital certified him mentally fit and discharged him. His family occasionally chains him because he runs away into town and becomes violent with people, and they feel that  they have no other options. Mental health in Bangladesh is largely neglected and under financed, and the stigma of mental health is huge. In rural areas there are few doctors and families generally take the patient to a traditional healer first, who usually tries to exorcize the Jinn (spirits) with holy water and versus from the Koran. Families who have a mentally ill family member sometimes tie them up out of desperation and lack of education and options. There is only one government run mental hospital with 500 beds in the entire country. Less than 0.5% of government health budget is spent for mental health. Allison Joyce/Redux
  • Patient 27 year old Md Saidul Islam is seen at the intake center of Pabna Mental Hospital August 21, 2014 in Pabna, Bangladesh. His family says that he no longer sleeps and attacks family members and strangers. Mental health in Bangladesh is largely neglected and under financed, and the stigma of mental health is huge. In rural areas there are few doctors and families generally take the patient to a traditional healer first, who usually tries to exorcize the Jinn (spirits) with holy water and versus from the Koran. Families who have a mentally ill family member sometimes tie them up out of desperation and lack of education and options. There is only one government run mental hospital with 500 beds in the entire country. Less than 0.5% of government health budget is spent for mental health. Allison Joyce/Redux
  • 16 year old schizophrenic Tara Banu stands chained to her front porch August 24, 2014 in Pabna, Bangladesh. She tried to commit suicide by hanging herself 2 years ago and her family says she has been mentally disturbed since then. She spent 5 1/2 months at Pabna Mental Hospital where she was diagnosed with schizophrenia, and the doctors recently discharged her and sent her home telling her family that she was cured. Her family chains her because she frequently tries to run away and harm herself, and they feel that they have no other options. Mental health in Bangladesh is largely neglected and under financed, and the stigma of mental health is huge. In rural areas there are few doctors and families generally take the patient to a traditional healer first, who usually tries to exorcize the Jinn (spirits) with holy water and versus from the Koran. Families who have a mentally ill family member sometimes tie them up out of desperation and lack of education and options. There is only one government run mental hospital with 500 beds in the entire country. Less than 0.5% of government health budget is spent for mental health. Allison Joyce/Redux
  • 16 year old schizophrenic Tara Banu has her hair done by her father August 25, 2014 in Pabna, Bangladesh. She tried to commit suicide by hanging herself 2 years ago and her family says she has been mentally disturbed since then. She spent 5 1/2 months at Pabna Mental Hospital where she was diagnosed with schizophrenia, and the doctors recently discharged her and sent her home telling her family that she was cured. Her family chains her because she frequently tries to run away and harm herself, and they feel that they have no other options. Mental health in Bangladesh is largely neglected and under financed, and the stigma of mental health is huge. In rural areas there are few doctors and families generally take the patient to a traditional healer first, who usually tries to exorcize the Jinn (spirits) with holy water and versus from the Koran. Families who have a mentally ill family member sometimes tie them up out of desperation and lack of education and options. There is only one government run mental hospital with 500 beds in the entire country. Less than 0.5% of government health budget is spent for mental health. Allison Joyce/Redux
  • Mentally ill 22 year old Rofikul smokes a cigarette August 25, 2014 in Pabna, Bangladesh. Rofikul is unable to speak and often gets violent, but doctors at Pabna Mental Hospital certified him mentally fit and discharged him. His family occasionally chains him because he runs away into town and becomes violent with people, and they feel that  they have no other options. Mental health in Bangladesh is largely neglected and under financed, and the stigma of mental health is huge. In rural areas there are few doctors and families generally take the patient to a traditional healer first, who usually tries to exorcize the Jinn (spirits) with holy water and versus from the Koran. Families who have a mentally ill family member sometimes tie them up out of desperation and lack of education and options. There is only one government run mental hospital with 500 beds in the entire country. Less than 0.5% of government health budget is spent for mental health. Allison Joyce/Redux
  • Mentally ill 22 year old Rofikul walks outside his home while his legs are chained August 26, 2014 in Pabna, Bangladesh. Rofikul is unable to speak and often gets violent, but doctors at Pabna Mental Hospital certified him mentally fit and discharged him. His family occasionally chains him because he runs away into town and becomes violent with people, and they feel that  they have no other options. Mental health in Bangladesh is largely neglected and under financed, and the stigma of mental health is huge. In rural areas there are few doctors and families generally take the patient to a traditional healer first, who usually tries to exorcize the Jinn (spirits) with holy water and versus from the Koran. Families who have a mentally ill family member sometimes tie them up out of desperation and lack of education and options. There is only one government run mental hospital with 500 beds in the entire country. Less than 0.5% of government health budget is spent for mental health. Allison Joyce/Redux
  • Intro
  • Bangladesh
    • Climate Change
      • Life and Death in the Sundarbans
      • Tiger Widows
    • The Bangladesh Surf Girls
    • Mental Health
    • Child Marriage and Sex Trafficking
  • Sri Lanka
    • Sri Lanka's Missing
    • The Women War Survivors Clearing Sri Lanka's Active Mine Fields
  • India
    • The School For Child Brides
    • Meghalaya; Where Women Rule
    • Riots and Rape in Muzaffarnagar
    • Jharia Burning
  • Rohingya
    • Singles
    • Rape Survivors Speak Out
    • The Widow's Village
    • Child Marriage
    • "I'm Better Than Before, But Inside My Heart Lies So Much Pain"
    • The Rohingya Community of Chicago, USA
  • NGO Work
    • Singles
    • Rohingya
  • About
  • Contact/Current location

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