Some 16.05 percent of Bangladesh's adult population (Aged 18 and above) are suffering from mental health disorders, reports UNB. In case of children and juvenile (aged bellow 18) this percentage is 18.40. Associate Prof Dr Mekhla Sarker of the National Institute of Mental Health and Hospital (NIMH) stated these at a seminar yesterday while presenting her keynote paper at the conference room of the NIMH in the city's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area.

She referred to two joint surveys carried out by NIMH and the United Nations World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2005 and 2009. She said there are only 230 expert psychiatrists in the country which is only 0.073 percent for the population of one lakh in the country. Mekhla Sarker said the number of bed in hospitals is only 0.58 against one lakh people. In her keynote presentation, Meghla also underscored the need for more mental growth of the youths. Health Minister Md Nasim was present as the chief guest in the seminar organised by Bangladesh Association of Psychiatrists (BAP).