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Free mental health service to face virus stress


Published : 27 Mar 2020 09:26 PM | Updated : 07 Sep 2020 05:12 PM

An online group of psychologists has emerged to help people suffering from stress due to the coronavirus outbreak in Bangladesh. 

People can be connected with the group initially through facebook page ‘Corona Shankat: Joruri Manusik Swastha Seba’ (Corona Crisis: Emergency Mental health service).

Faisal Ahmed Rafi, CEO of bdlisteners, a mental health platform, is leading the programme. 

Roufun Naher, a teacher of the Dhaka University’s Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, is supervising the team.

The government like many other countries is enforcing a lockdown by closing all offices and academic institutions and asking people to stay home as the COVID-19 continues to take its toll across the world.

Over 20,000 people have died so far, though most of the people contacted with the virus made complete recovery. 

Bangladesh also confirmed 48 people with the disease, of them five died.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says this time of crisis is generating stress in the population. 

The fast spread of the virus terrified people everywhere.

Dr Mohammad Shayekh Abdullah, residential physician of the Dhaka Medical College Hospital that runs the largest outdoor services in Bangladesh, told Bangladesh Post that they are getting many patients with ‘somatic symptoms’ now.

“Feeling feverish or feeling like something is stuck in their throat or little cough made them think that they get the new virus which is actually not,” he said.

“We are attending many phone calls every day who are actually suffering from psychogenic hyperventilation, and anxiety related chest pain and chest tightness,” he added. 

Psychologist Roufun said those who have previous mental health issues or risk factors are ‘more vulnerable’ in this time of crisis. 

“If such anxiety and the vulnerability out of the crisis persist for long time, then it’ll turn to a mental disorder. 

That’s why we have taken this step to prevent upcoming mental health disaster,” she said about the group, adding that international mental health practitioners and trainers are also connected with them. 

Rafi said they are offering free mental health support with their team of experts through audio call, video call, chat or texting since people have to stay at home now.

“All the services are based on virtual platform. People can get service by connecting our facebook page. 

People can call us - 01515625217 and 01730443737 - for more information,” he said. “At the beginning, we’ll offer the service from 6pm to 12am. Gradually we’ll expand based on the demand and participation of volunteers.”  

The current pool of volunteers includes counseling psychologists, clinical psychologist, psychologists, mental health first aiders, and other mental health professionals who work in different places.

 WHO suggests people minimize watching, reading or listening to news that causes them to feel anxious or distressed. People have been advised to seek information only from trusted sources and mainly to take practical steps to prepare their plans and protect themselves and loved ones.