Mental health problems in childhood leave many without treatment

It is room 116 at the National Institute of Mental Health. A doctor on duty is spending considerable time listening to the problems of a 13-year-old boy. The boy's mother is sitting beside him, while his uncle waits outside.
“This boy does not study properly. He spends day and night on his mobile phone. He insists on getting one thing or another. If he does not get what he wants, he gets angry and breaks things,” the uncle said.
Later, last Thursday, a conversation with the boy's mother at the hospital revealed more about the situation. She had brought her son there on the advice of his schoolteacher. The family lives in Gazipur. The mother said her husband works abroad and that her son had been blackmailing her in various ways for several years. He had also developed close ties with unruly boys in the neighborhood.
His condition was deteriorating day by day, she said. He was falling behind academically compared with other children his age. His teachers had warned that he would be expelled from school if he failed to pass the primary-level examination this time.
Psychiatrists say the prevalence of mental health disorders among children and adolescents is increasing. Not everyone is receiving treatment. Many are falling behind in their studies and becoming involved in various criminal activities. Parents often dismiss these warning signs as normal changes associated with growing up or simply as bad temper. Experts say parents should seek advice from a psychiatrist if the problems persist.
Patient records from both the outpatient department and inpatient services at the National Institute of Mental Health reflect the same trend in childhood and adolescent mental health problems. In 2020, a total of 5,851 children received outpatient treatment for mental health problems. By 2025, the number had risen to 7,772.
At the same hospital, 71 children were admitted for treatment in 2020. By 2025, that figure had increased to 376. The emergency department has also recorded a similar trend. The institute classifies children as those aged from birth to 14 years.
The doctor on duty in Room 116 at the National Institute of Mental Health said children and adolescents come to the hospital every day with a range of mental health problems. Most of these patients are older than 10.
The most common complaints include difficulty concentrating on studies, excessive mobile phone use, association with bad company, demands for expensive items and, most frequently, disobedience. The doctor said the number of child patients had increased compared with previous years.
The latest available national survey also highlights the alarming state of child and adolescent mental health in Bangladesh. According to the 2018–19 National Mental Health Survey, 12.6 percent of children aged 7 to 17 had some form of mental health problem. Of these children, 94.5 percent received no treatment or mental health services.
Mohit Kamal, a psychiatrist and former director of the National Institute of Mental Health, said his years of experience treating patients suggested that mental health problems among children and adolescents were increasing at an alarming rate.
“Every day, children and adolescents come to us with various new types of problems. Parents are suffering financial losses and becoming ill themselves as they struggle to manage their children,” he said.
He added that excessive mobile phone use was the starting point for most of these problems.
Counseling is underway for an eighth-grade student at a prestigious school in the capital. His mother is waiting outside. She said her son gets angry easily, refuses to listen to his parents and is performing poorly in examinations. He stays out late in the evening and has even assaulted his mother.
Recent research has also found symptoms of depression and anxiety among adolescents. A 2025 study titled Prevalence of Depression and Anxiety Among Adolescents and Their Association with Socioeconomic and Demographic Characteristics in Mymensingh Division found symptoms of depression in 47.8 percent of participants and symptoms of anxiety in 32.8 percent. Researchers obtained these findings using specific screening methods. The study involved 400 adolescents.
Psychiatrists say examinations, family expectations for good results, competition and fear of failure can increase psychological stress among adolescents. Family conflict, bullying, social isolation and violence can add to the burden. Social media is also creating new sources of pressure.
Psychiatrist Mekhla Sarkar says three factors contribute to mental health disorders among children and adolescents: genetics, family and the social environment. Genetic factors cannot be avoided, she said. However, the lack of a supportive family environment and the erosion of social safety nets are contributing to an increase in mental health problems among young people.
Sarkar also pointed out that children have few playgrounds and are often not allowed to go outside because of safety concerns. Parents struggle to make time for their children while managing their jobs. As a result, children and adolescents are becoming disconnected from the world around them and increasingly isolated.
Their emotional development is being hampered, they are not learning to regulate their emotions properly, and they are becoming vulnerable to various problems. Technology is further widening the scope of these difficulties, she added.
Psychiatrists say persistent behavioral changes may signal mental health problems. Warning signs include reduced participation in sports or social activities with friends, loss of concentration on studies, frequent anger or crying, changes in sleeping or eating habits, and becoming unusually withdrawn or quiet.
Professor Mohit Kamal said parents must remain vigilant about their children's mental health at all times. If they notice a problem, they should not conceal it but seek professional medical help promptly.
He also argued that mobile phone use among children and adolescents should not merely be restricted but prohibited altogether.