University students’ mental health: Ask a student, “How are your studies going?” Don’t be surprised if they say one of two things, or both in reply: a) they are finding it difficult to concentrate; and b) they are struggling with a feeling of worthlessness. The two phenomena are intertwined with mental health.
Urban youth mental health: When addressing mental health in Bangladesh, we're no strangers to being labelled 'mad' or in the Bengali definition 'pagol,' when we acknowledge our depression or want to invest in therapy. Among the mentally ill, the youth form a significant number.
I was diagnosed as having obsessive-compulsive behaviour (OCD) when I was 22 years old, but I have had OCD all my life. Looking back, it was so obvious, yet how I never got diagnosed earlier is beyond me. Better late than never; at least now I know why I am ‘compelled’ to do the things that I do.