Ten years ago today, Bangladesh launched its Mental Health First Aid program. One focus was on reducing disaster impacts, further contributing to Bangladesh’s internationally renowned successes at dealing with disaster risks. Irrespective of disasters, mental health first aid helps with daily living.
Bangladesh’s government, the charity Action Contre La Faim, the Innovation for Wellbeing Foundation, and MHFA (Mental Health First Aid) England collaborated to initiate mental health first aid training and awareness for the country. They ensured that existing training was modified to be fully pertinent to Bangladesh’s context.
Together, bringing Bangladesh on board as the 24th country at the time with a mental health first aid program, they have trained thousands, including the ordinary public, leaders, teachers, and emergency service professionals. Many of these people now form the country’s cadre of mental health first aid trainers, in order to train others.
