Desk Report,
In universities in Bangladesh, especially Jagannath University (JU), the lives of students are gradually becoming depressing due to the pressure of regular classes, labs and exams. Family and financial tensions, housing crisis, unexpected exam results and complications in personal relationships make students mentally weak. Various mental problems also lead to extreme consequences like suicide. This year, four students committed suicide in four months at Jagannath University, which is very worrying. Although the university has a psychological counseling center, the reality is that the number of psychiatrists there is very less than the requirement. There is no effective infrastructure to provide mental health services. As a result, students have to go to a private hospital or doctor’s chamber to receive mental health services, which is expensive and time-consuming for students. In addition, the prejudices and negative perceptions of the society create hesitation among students, due to which they do not want to talk about their problems directly. Many feel uncomfortable discussing mental health, while some are not very aware of it. In this context, it is time to give due importance to mental health. It is essential for university administrations to take more effective and compassionate steps to ensure the mental well-being of students.
In universities in Bangladesh, especially Jagannath University (JU), the lives of students are gradually becoming depressing due to the pressure of regular classes, labs and exams. Family and financial tensions, housing crisis, unexpected exam results and complications in personal relationships make students mentally weak. Various mental problems also lead to extreme consequences like suicide. This year, four students committed suicide in four months at Jagannath University, which is very worrying. Although the university has a psychological counseling center, the reality is that the number of psychiatrists there is very less than the requirement. There is no effective infrastructure to provide mental health services. As a result, students have to go to a private hospital or doctor’s chamber to receive mental health services, which is expensive and time-consuming for students. In addition, the prejudices and negative perceptions of the society create hesitation among students, due to which they do not want to talk about their problems directly. Many feel uncomfortable discussing mental health, while some are not very aware of it. In this context, it is time to give due importance to mental health. It is essential for university administrations to take more effective and compassionate steps to ensure the mental well-being of students.
