Climate change takes heavy toll on mental health in Bangladesh

• Climate impacts raise concern about harm to mental health
• Psychologists say too few professionals as threats grow
• Technology and training volunteers seen as solutions

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Psychologists in Bangladesh said the grief and anxiety caused by climate change often comes from an overwhelming sense of helplessness rooted in communities' economic situation.

"The poor - whose livelihoods are already fragile and whose access to government support is limited - live on under threats looming in the horizon," said Rahman of the University of Dhaka.

Furthermore, there is still a lot of stigma around mental health issues and treatment, and people - especially in rural areas - often turn to traditional medicine and healers for help.

Depon Chandra Sarker, a child psychologist at the Patuakhali Medical College, a government institution, said that seeking support for mental health problems is still rare in local communities "unless someone gets really out of control".

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