Around five million people are suffering from mental problems, and of them, one million commit suicide every year, informs World Health Organisation (WHO).

Of the six reasons for mental problems, four are: depression, excess drinking, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Around 90 million people in the world are suffering from drug-related ailments.

One person in every four families suffers from mental issues while 50 million people have Epilepsy.

Of this, 80 per cent are from developing nations.

Specialists have said that there is no alternative to psychotherapy in treating mental patients.

Salma Afroz, 36, is a resident in Mirpur and is taking counselling at the BSMMU regularly. Salma has an unnatural phobia of people.

Many like her take therapy at BSMMU and the registration for psychotherapy is Monday.

Doctors have said that at present, the country needs 500 psychotherapists and 1000 in the next 20 years.

The current number of 300 is inadequate, doctors contend.

Doctors also say that there were people with mental problems in the past but due to lack of awareness, they did not know how to detect the ailments.

On top, the complexity of modern life, social unrest and modern technology add more stress to life, resulting in many mental afflictions.

Professor of the National Health Institute, Professor Md Tajul Islam, told Bangla Tribune, “Not all afflictions can be treated with medicines and therefore, we provide therapy.”

Professor Dr Md Helal Uddin told Bangla Tribune, “To treat mental diseases, we need both medicines and counselling.”

Former professor of BSMMU, Dr M A Salam told Bangla Tribune, “Psychotherapy includes behaviour therapy counselling which varies from patient to patient.”

“If someone has phobic anxiety disorder plus panic attack then some medicines will be needed along with behaviour therapy.”

Medicines can provide 50 to 80 per cent treatment but for full recovery, psychotherapy is essential, he said.