Friday, March 29, 2024

Mental patients on rise for extra marital affairs, say experts

The number of mental patients having extra marital affairs is increasing significantly in the country, experts say.
The experts at National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) say extra marital affairs have a bad impact on the families and the society.
Prof Golam Rabbani, director of the NIMH, told The Daily Star that “Such relations always create problems in families and hamper mental development of children.”
The major change in family and social life, contempt for social and religious norms, non-dependency and extreme self-reliance between couples, lack of sharing of family matters, and hidden mental disorder are among other causes of extra marital affairs, the director added.
He also said that though such occurrences are not prominent in society generally, the institute frequently gets such cases. In fact, the situation is very serious, but since only conscious couples are seeking professional help from psychiatrists, the real magnitude of the phenomenon remains unknown.
Meanwhile, poor and illiterate people go to religious clerics and quacks or try to find other ways of solving these problems, said Prof Rabbani, also the president of Bangladesh Association of Child and Adolescent Mental Health.
He strongly believes that man or woman who gets involved in an extra marital affair forgets that it might cause devastation in the future of her/his family members. The children are usually the worst affected. They feel insecure in staying with such parents, but hardly find any alternate asylum.
“On an average, 80 mentally disturbed people visit the hospital a day. About 40 percent of them become mentally disordered due the such extra marital relationships. Some are tormented by spousal infidelity, others are bothered by their fiancé’s interest in other girls or boys,” said Dr Zillur Kamal, associate professor of the institute.
The hospital is equipped to handle both adults and children. The institute-cum-hospital has 62 physiatrists, including professors and other medical officers. Counselling is also available for patients.
“Two of my patients divorced their partners’ last week for extra marital affairs. This is common situation in the country, which should be solved by creating awareness to make people sympathetic, respectful and affectionate,” said Professor of Psychiatry Jhunu Shamsunnahar of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University.
“In less serious cases, the patients are mostly handled by giving counselling to improve their confidence and self-reliance. We suggest counselling because it really helps get relief from frustrating situations,” added the professor.
“In serious cases, the patients are also provided with medication for relaxation of the condition,” she said.
Sonali Das (not her real name) came to the outdoor department of NIMH, saying that she was feeling insecure and helpless as her husband was involved with a girl and so, she wanted to consult a psychiatrist.
She said, “When my husband goes to office or any other work, I feel so insecure and feel that he wont come back just as he threatened to do when I asked him about the involvement.”
“I can not bear the pain. I feel cheated, humiliated and deprived. Society and family are not helping me. Every body says that I have failed to keep my husband attracted to me. Sometimes they even say that I should tolerate it,” said Sonali, who got married 17 years ago and has three children.
Explaining a patients’ condition at the NIMH, Prof Golam Rabbani said that the 29-year-old man from Jhenidah, is now under treatment as he had tried to commit suicide after finding out about his wife’s illicit affair with one of his friends.
He also pointed out relevant recent incidents that received media attention, like the case of Rita’s suicide with her two kids and other cases of parents being suspected of killing their children for extra marital affairs. “All these incidents indicate the vulnerable social situation which gets created from such illicit relations,” said the mental health expert.
“Considering that family is one critically important institution, the couples should work with commitment and trust. Every person should be committed towards their partners and other family members,” said Mehtab Khanam, professor of psychology at the University of Dhaka.

 

Courtesy of The Daily Star

Related News

BRAC University students win awards at OSUN film festival

News Desk : dhakamirror.com BRAC University students have recently won multiple prestigious awards at the Open Society University Network (OSUN) Film Festival. The festival was held online and featured 25 student-made videos, the final projects of the “Visual Storytelling for Student Engagement” course in the Fall 2023 semester. This collaborative course was offered at seven ... Read more

Professor Dr. Mohammad Ashik Mosaddik joined as the new Pro-Vice Chancellor of East West University

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Professor Dr Ashik Mosaddik joined as the new Pro-Vice Chancellor (Pro-VC) of East West University (EWU) on Monday, 4 December 2023. The Honourable Chancellor of the University, His Excellency the President of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh; Mohammed Shahabuddin appointed him as Pro Vice-Chancellor for four years, reads a press release. ... Read more

Department of Population Sciences at Dhaka University hosts farewell ceremony and freshmen reception

News Desk : dhakamirror.com The freshers’ reception for the students of the 2022-23 session and the farewell ceremony for the students of the 2017-18 session were recently held in the Department of Population Sciences of University of Dhaka. Professor Dr Zia Rahman, dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Dhaka, was present as ... Read more

Youth festival held in Dhaka

News Desk : dhakamirror.com The premises of the Krishibid Institution echoed the energetic strides of more than 300 youths from across the country who gathered to participate in the Youth Festival on Sunday. Organized by the Right Here Right Now (RHRN2) project of Brac’s Social Empowerment and Legal Protection (SELP) Program, the purpose of the ... Read more

Cadet College admission test fee through bKash

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Like previous years, admission seekers of the country’s 12 cadet colleges can pay application fee for admission test through bKash. Applicants or their guardians can apply for admission test at the cadet colleges’ admission website till 5:00pm of 13 December and complete the application with fee payment through bKash. The applicants ... Read more

NSU Center for Business Research hosts seminar on applied business research

News Desk : dhakamirror.com The Center for Business Research at North South University (NSU) hosted a seminar titled “Applied Business Research in the Digital Age” on Monday (16 October). ANM Ziaul Islam Mithu, a distinguished industry leader and managing director of KANTAR was present as the keynote speaker, reads a press release. Professor Helal Ahammad, ... Read more

Amazon Web Services shortlists 34 Bangladeshi startups for credit facilities of $10,000 each

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Following the jury’s evaluation at Amazon Web Services Startup Day Bangladesh 2023, 34 Bangladeshi startups were selected to receive credit facilities from the company worth $10,000 each. Amazon Web Services Startup Day Bangladesh 2023 was held for the first time in Bangladesh on October 5, says a press release. The day-long ... Read more

UIU holds seminar on youth development

News Desk : dhakamirror.com United International University organised a seminar on ‘Youth Development’ at the UIU campus on Madani Avenue in Dhaka on Tuesday. Nazma Rahman, mayor of Camden in London, was present as chief guest on the occasion. Mike Sherriff, charity trustee, author and former charity chief executive, Nayeem Hossain, president of Nagorik Dhaka ... Read more

Scholarship awarded for IELTS exam candidates at North South University

News Desk : dhakamirror.com North South University (NSU) and British Council jointly organized a scholarship award ceremony for IELTS exam candidates. The event was graced by Tom Miscioscia, Country Head of the British Council with his delegation of administrative and business heads, reads a press release. Professor Atiqul Islam, Vice-Chancellor of NSU led the events. ... Read more

NSU secures top spot in NASA Space Apps Challenge

News Desk : dhakamirror.com North South University’s department of Electrical and Computer Engineering has soared to new heights by making a splash in the prestigious NASA SPACE APPS CHALLENGES 2023. This marks a watershed moment for NSU as the challenge is a globally recognised hackathon spearheaded by NASA itself, said a press release. The team, ... Read more

ULAB holds CSE Freshers’ Orientation Fall 2023

News Desk : dhakamirror.com The Department of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) organised the Fall 2023 CSE Freshers’ Orientation on 5 October 2023, at the ULAB Permanent Campus, reads a press release. Russell T. Ahmed, the President of the Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS), ... Read more

30 Bangladeshi universities compete in International Humanitarian Law moot

News Desk : dhakamirror.com The national rounds of the 14th Henry Dunant Memorial Moot Court Competition on international humanitarian law (IHL) have kicked off on Thursday at the Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) in Dhaka. A total of 30 teams are participating in the competition, representing different public and private universities of the country, reads a ... Read more

University of Regina, ApplyBoard organise Students and Agent Partners Seminar

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Canada’s renowned University of Regina and world largest Ed-Tech platform ApplyBoard conducted two back to back student and agent partner seminars in Dhaka Renaissance Hotel Grand Ballroom on 3 October. Both the event was for selected 100+ invitees who came to know more about Univeristy of Regina and network with direct ... Read more

Policy recommendation workshop arranged for University of Dhaka students

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Co-create 2071, a two day bootcamp has been organised in the University of Dhaka on 2 and 3 October by Preneur Lab on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of US-Bangladesh diplomatic relations with the support of the US Embassy in Dhaka in association with the International Relations department of the ... Read more

ISD celebrates world teachers’ day

News Desk : dhakamirror.com International School Dhaka on Thursday celebrated World Teachers’ Day recognizing its diverse and international teacher faculty from over 30 different countries. This year’s theme for the day was ‘The teachers we need for the education we want: The global imperative to reverse the teacher shortage’, said a press release. On the ... Read more

SUB hosts grand ceremony to celebrate World Teachers’ Day

News Desk : dhakamirror.com On 5 October 2023 State University of Bangladesh (SUB) held a remarkable celebration in honour of Teachers’ Day, a day dedicated to recognizing and appreciating the tireless efforts and dedication of educators who play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our nation. A total of 17 teachers from various ... Read more

SJOBF gets new executive committee

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Imran Karim, vice chairman of Confidence Group, took in charge as the president, and Sheikh Shabab Ahmed, cheif external affairs officer of Nagad Ltd, as the general secretary of the new Executive Committee of St Joseph Old Boys’ Foundation (SJOBF), the alumni association of St Joseph Higher Secondary School. The announcement ... Read more

Uttara University playing significant role in shaping future leadership: Education Minister

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Education Minister Dipu Moni has highly praised Uttara University during her address at the 8th Convocation of the University held on 3 October at the Bashundhara International Convention Center-4 (Navratri Hall). “I highly commend Uttara University for academic excellence, research and quality improvement of higher education. This educational institution is playing ... Read more

ULAB MSJ organises freshers’ orientation and apprenticeship aay for fall 2023

News Desk : dhakamirror.com The Department of Media Studies and Journalism Department (MSJ) at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB), organized freshers’ orientation and apprenticeship day program for fall 2023 semester on 30 September, reads an ULAB press release. Arranged at auditorium of the ULAB Research Building, the events were aimed at welcoming the ... Read more

Abacus Speed Master Competition holds final round, prize giving ceremony

News Desk : dhakamirror.com The final round of the “Abacus Speed Master” competition was organised on Friday by the ‘Mozaru’ e-learning platform, at the Bishwo Shahitto Kendro. Fifty-one selected participants from Mojaru’s Abacus course demonstrated their ability to perform rapid calculations, proving their expertise, said a press release. Faruk Hossain who is a renowned poem ... Read more