Representational Image. -Freepik

 
DHAKA, Jan 27, 2025 (BSS) - Experts have highlighted that the newly developed training on the trainers manual plays a crucial and effective role in ensuring mental health support and improving the quality of life of street children.
 
They came up with the observation at the closing ceremony titled 'Presentation of Research Outcomes: Mental Health of Underprivileged Children in Dhaka City' held at the Bishwo Shahitto Kendro auditorium in the capital today.
 
Key speakers at the event included Ekmatra Society's Executive Director Shubhashish Roy, Director Dr. Niloy Ranjan Biswas, Additional Deputy Commissioner for Development and Human Resources Shamim Hossain, Toyota Foundation Representative Naomi Okiyama, and Very50 CEO Ryosuke Sugaya, a press release said.
 
The speakers shed light on the mental health challenges faced by underprivileged children, calling for collective efforts to address these issues.
 
Following the speeches, a discussion session on the research findings was held, where Prof. Mahjabin Haque from Dhaka University's Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology and Farhad Hossain, Founder and Executive Director of the Local Education and Economic Development Organization (LEEDO), shared their insights.
 
The session included screenings of two documentaries titled 'What is Trauma? and PTSD', which explained the impact of trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder on children.
 
The event concluded with testimonials from beneficiaries and their mothers, who shared their experiences of living on the streets and how their lives changed with the help of Ekmatra Society.
 
According to UNICEF's 2024 survey, the number of street children in Bangladesh has risen to 3.5 million, 70 percent of whom live on the streets of Dhaka. Despite being a common sight on the city's bustling roads, the struggles of these children often remain unseen.
 
Neglect, abuse, and the traumas of their present and past lives are their daily companions, pushing them toward an unbearable existence. These struggles leave deep emotional scars, often leading to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). To escape these traumas, many children turn to dangerous paths for temporary relief.
 
While basic needs such as shelter are prioritised, the mental health of street children remains overlooked and neglected. Caregivers at shelters often lack the necessary knowledge and skills to address the mental health needs of these children. The absence of adequate research on their mental health challenges further complicates understanding their needs and providing appropriate support.
 
To address this gap, Ekmatra Society and Very50, with funding from the Toyota Foundation, jointly conducted a research project titled Mental Health of Underprivileged Children in Dhaka City.
 
This study, which began in 2023, was based on the experiences of 80 street children and 20 caregivers. Data was collected through case studies involving conversations with street children, facilitated by child psychologists and research assistants.
 
Following the case studies, the research team collaborated with psychologists and stakeholders from organisations directly working with street children to conduct key informant interviews and focus group discussions (FGDs).
 
Based on the findings, Ekmatra Society developed the Training on Trainers Manual, designed to guide caregivers at existing shelters for street children. The manual aims to equip caregivers with skills to provide preliminary care to children suffering from PTSD.
 
Additionally, two documentaries were created to illustrate the mental health challenges of street children, highlighting the effects of trauma and PTSD and presenting expert opinions on these issues.