Bangladesh is a country with a young and energetic population, which it often celebrates as its ‘demographic dividend’ – capable of bringing about economic growth, innovation and social transformation. But there is a darker and more troubling reality, which is a mental health crisis impacting youth.
Millions of young Bangladeshis suffer from anxiety and depression, a sense of loneliness, burnout, and hopelessness – many without anyone knowing. In schools, universities, the workplace and even at home, thousands are silently suffering from anxiety and depression, a sense of loneliness, burnout and hopelessness. Many end up suffering, with no support, no treatment and sometimes no language to tell them how they feel. Mental health is one of the least talked about, but one of the most pressing public health and social issues in the country today.
Talk about youth development in Bangladesh for years has been limited to the aspects of education, employment and skills. These are undoubtedly significant, but the psychological well-being of young people has been largely neglected. Students can be very well academically and have a tremendous amount of anxiety. A graduate of a university might have the qualifications but suffer from a sense of failure and dismay at the lack of job opportunities. A young person can look like they have connections on the Internet and feel very lonely in the real world. This is a paradox in society, as Bangladesh still values performance over well-being.
There are many underlying and interrelated factors. Educational stress starts from the early stages of life. Numerous children develop conditions that have a narrow definition of success based on examination success and institutional prestige. The pressure is huge due to fear of failure, social comparison, parental expectations and high levels of competition. Children and adolescents frequently fail to have the opportunity to develop any identity besides academic success.
The opportunities available to students and young scientists at the university and early career levels are even worse. The number of young people who are unemployed or under-employed is on the rise, and many educated young people are frustrated and disillusioned. After studying for several years for a highly competitive public sector position, graduates can find themselves under financial insecurity and social pressure, just to end up being underemployed. Graduates can spend years preparing for a competitive public sector job, only to find themselves in financial insecurity and social pressure, and hence unemployed. Others find the labour market is often not aligned with their education or skills. There is a large disparity between expectations and opportunities, which has engendered a lot of anxiety about the future.
Over this crisis, digital life has added another layer. The social media landscape has changed the way young people communicate, compare themselves and view success. Living in a world of ‘lifestyles’ and ‘standards; that aren’t realistic, online bullying, negative information, and negative public discourse have increased feelings of inadequacy and emotional exhaustion. The internet is an escape and a source of stress for many young people.
Concurrently, there is high stigma against mental health in Bangladeshi society. Emotional pain is sometimes regarded as a lack of character, a lack of trust, seeking attention, or failure to live up to oneself. Often, young people are encouraged to be strong rather than seek help. Many families, schools and places of work are not aware of, or sensitive to, how to appropriately respond to psychological distress.
The ramifications of this carelessness have become increasingly apparent. There is regular newspaper coverage of student and young adult suicides. The high prevalence of many youths is illustrated in the numbers of cases associated with academic stress, interpersonal conflicts, cyberbullying, financial stress and social humiliation. But reactions to the public tend to be reactive and short-term, not leading to substantive structural change.
However, there is also a lack of an adequate mental healthcare system in Bangladesh. There is very limited access to affordable and quality mental health services, particularly in non-urban areas. Professional counsellors are not common in schools and universities. There are still problems with public awareness campaigns and mental health services that cannot be integrated into primary health care and educational systems. It not only affects health but is also a national development issue.
A generation under stress, fear and emotional instability is incapable of giving its full contribution to democratic participation, innovation, social cohesion, and economic productivity. Denying the importance of mental health in young people ultimately makes the country poorer and weaker. This crisis needs to be tackled in a multi-dimensional manner.
The first measure is that mental health education should be integrated into the school/University curriculum. It is important that from an early age, young people learn how to be emotionally literate, manage their own stress, develop digital wellbeing and how to seek assistance. Secondly, educational institutions must have readily available counselling and protection systems in place. Students must not be left alone when in a time of emotional crisis. Thirdly, the recognition of youth unemployment as a psychological issue, as well as an economic one, is an issue for policymakers. Financial stress directly impacts mental health. Fourth, media outlets and public figures should play a more positive role in breaking the silence and stigma related to mental health. Last but by no means least, it is important that families and communities develop their capacity to provide safer emotionally embracing spaces for youth, where their vulnerability is not met with punishment, and were asking for help is seen as a sign of strength rather than shame.
Bangladesh has put up a lot of efforts in infrastructure, technology and economic development. It now has to spend as much time and energy on the emotional health of its young people.
The level of education of the country’s young people is not the only factor that will shape the nation’s future; so will the mental health, hope and resilience of the young people of the nation. Stifling the cry of the youth is no longer a national answer to youth suffering.
The writer is a Protection Specialist and CEO, Favor Consultancy. E-mail: favorconsultancy24@gmail.com
