The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has organized a two-day conference on suicide prevention in Cox's Bazar. The main goal of the conference is to raise awareness on suicide prevention and increase the capacity of mental health workers in Bangladesh.
The conference was co-sponsored by The Swedish International Development Corporation Agency (SIDA), which is being organized by Dhaka University, a reputed school in the country, and the National Institute of Mental Health and Hospital.
Mental health and psycho-social support have been identified as one of the current needs of the people of Bangladesh. IOM's Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) unit is working with relevant organizations and mental health workers to reduce student dropout rates. Dhaka University has identified dropout as one of the main reasons for suicide. The current global epidemic has created additional economic and social pressures on both individuals and communities.
These problems are becoming more pronounced due to limited opportunities for education and livelihood. Although communities around the world are constantly striving to improve their situation, more mental health services are needed to meet the emotional needs of the most vulnerable, especially the elderly, people with disabilities, women, children, youth and survivors of violence. Eight research papers on suicide prevention were presented at the conference. The research papers were presented by eminent academics and psychologists of Dhaka University, National Institute of Neurosciences and Hospitals, Dhaka Children's Hospital, National Institute of Mental Health
and Hospital, Cox's Bazar Suicide Prevention Sub-Group and IOM's MHPSS Unit.
