Salman Hossain, a student of Titumir College, sustained bullet injuries on a leg during the July uprising.

Following surgery, he discovered that the injured leg has gotten shorter than the other, making it impossible for him to walk normally. "I fell into depression afterwards," said Salman, while sharing his story at a seminar.

The seminar, titled "Mental Health Crisis: Dealing with Post-July Revolutionary Aspects," was organised by Aachol Foundation at Dhaka Reporters Unity yesterday.

Salman said his mental health has further deteriorated as many keep trying to ridicule and discredit the uprising.

Salman's story is not unique.

Many injured individuals, along with families of the deceased and witnesses of the uprising, are grappling with mental trauma and related disorders, said speakers at the seminar.

They referred to a recent survey by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), which showed that 75 percent of individuals injured during protests suffer from depression, with 27.3 percent experiencing severe depression.

Read more

Streamline ongoing efforts to help July victims

Additionally, 54.5 percent exhibited anxiety symptoms, and 58.2 percent displayed signs of stress or psychological strain. The study involved 55 injured, aged 14 to 50.

Ignoring the mental health aspect might result in severe long-term consequences for those involved in the uprising, speakers also said.

Presenting the keynote paper, Dr Kamal Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury, professor of Clinical Psychology at Dhaka University, said potential mental health issues stemming from the uprising may include Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, stress-related behaviors, personality changes, and a loss of hope due to physical disabilities.

Dr Kamal expressed concern about the inadequate mental health support system in Bangladesh. He said that 90 percent of mental health patients do not seek professional help, partly due to the lack of resources.

The paper recommended forming a task force comprising mental health professionals, creating a list of victims severely impacted by the events in July and August, and establishing mental health corners in government and private hospitals at district and upazila levels, among other measures.

Prof Muzaherul Huq, former adviser of World Health Organization, recalled how many martyrs' contributions were forgotten after the Liberation War in 1971, citing a family where three sisters were killed, and two were injured but later overlooked.

"We must not forget the heroes of 2024," he urged. He called for tracking the affected families to provide mental health support and suggested initiating a stress management programme for the injured.

Read more

Ensure swift disbursement of funds for July victims

Prof Md Sayedur Rahman, special assistant to health ministry, acknowledged delays in compiling the victim list, citing efforts to ensure no Awami League activists were mistakenly included.

"They will receive treatment, but not the status of a martyr or injured participant of the July uprising, which has caused delays," he explained.

"Mental health was previously overlooked, but now we are working with the government and NGOs to provide mental health care for the victims," he added.

Farida Akhter, adviser to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, said, "In discussions among advisers, we unanimously agreed to prioritise mental health support for victims and their families. The interim government is fully committed to supporting the victims of the July-August events in every way possible."