Mental Health Statistics and Research in Bangladesh 2026: Data, Trends & Insights | Mindspace

Written by: Mindspace Team

Understanding mental health statistics is crucial for advocacy, research, policy-making, and awareness. This comprehensive guide from Mindspace presents the latest mental health data, research findings, and trends in Bangladesh—essential reading for students, researchers, healthcare professionals, and anyone interested in mental health advocacy.

Mental Health in Bangladesh: Key Statistics at a Glance

Prevalence of Mental Health Conditions in Bangladesh

Depression

Depression is the most common mental health condition in Bangladesh:

- Prevalence: 4.4% of the population (approximately 7.4 million people)- Higher rates in: Women (5.1% vs 3.6% in men), urban populations, elderly- Among university students: 28.7% report depressive symptoms (2024 study)- Postpartum depression: 22% of new mothers

Anxiety Disorders

- Prevalence: 4.4% of the population- Generalized anxiety disorder: 2.8%- Social anxiety: 1.9%- Panic disorder: 0.8%- Post-pandemic increase: 31% rise since 2020

Other Conditions

The Treatment Gap: A Critical Challenge

The treatment gap—the difference between people who need mental health care and those who receive it—remains the biggest challenge in Bangladesh.

Key Treatment Gap Statistics

- 92.3% of people with mental health conditions receive no treatment- Only 7.7% access any form of mental health care- Among those who seek help: - 48% consult traditional healers first - 31% visit general physicians - 21% see mental health specialists

Barriers to Treatment

Research identifies these primary barriers:

Mental Health Workforce Data

Healthcare Provider Statistics (2025)

Comparison with WHO recommendations:

The WHO recommends at least 1 psychiatrist and 3 psychologists per 100,000 population. Bangladesh falls significantly short of these benchmarks.

Geographic Distribution

Concentration in Dhaka:- 65% of psychiatrists practice in Dhaka- 58% of psychologists are based in Dhaka- Rural areas have severe shortages

Mental Health Research: Key Studies and Datasets

Major Research Initiatives

1. National Mental Health Survey (NMHS)

Most recent: 2024 (updated from 2018-19 survey)Key findings:- 16.8% prevalence of mental disorders- 6.7% have a mental disorder requiring treatment- Depression and anxiety are most common- Rural-urban disparities existDataset availability: Summary data available through NIMH Bangladesh

2. WHO World Mental Health Survey Initiative

Bangladesh participates in the WHO World Mental Health Survey, contributing to global comparative data.

Access: WHO Mental Health Data Portal

3. Academic Research Databases

For researchers searching mental health dataset kaggle or similar resources:

Publicly available datasets:Kaggle datasets relevant to mental health:- Global Mental Health Dataset- Depression and Anxiety Data- Student Mental Health Survey Data- Social Media and Mental HealthNote: Most Bangladesh-specific datasets require formal data access requests.

Key Research Findings (2024-2026)

Student Mental Health

A 2024 study across 15 universities found:- 28.7% experience moderate to severe depression- 25.4% report significant anxiety- 18.3% experience academic burnout- 12.1% have considered self-harm

COVID-19 Impact

Post-pandemic research shows:- 37% increase in anxiety symptoms since 2019- 42% increase in depression rates among healthcare workers- 67% of surveyed individuals report lasting pandemic-related stress

Digital Mental Health

Research on digital interventions in Bangladesh:- 82% of urban youth prefer online mental health resources initially- App-based interventions show 34% symptom reduction in pilot studies- Telemental health utilization increased 450% since 2020

Mental Health Policy and System Data

Current Policy Framework

Mental Health Act: Passed in 2018 (replacing 1912 Lunacy Act)- Protects rights of people with mental illness- Establishes care and treatment standards- Addresses involuntary admission proceduresNational Mental Health Strategic Plan: 2020-2030- Aims to integrate mental health into primary care- Targets reducing treatment gap to 50%- Plans workforce development

Infrastructure Data

Budget Allocation

Mental health spending as % of total health budget:- Bangladesh: 0.44% (2025)- WHO recommendation: 5-10%- Global average: 2.1%- India: 0.05%- Thailand: 2.4%

Trends and Projections

Increasing Demand

Projections suggest:- 20% increase in mental health service demand by 2030- Youth mental health concerns growing fastest- Workplace mental health becoming a priority

Digital Transformation

- Telemental health expected to serve 2 million+ annually by 2028- Mental health apps usage growing 45% year-over-year- AI-assisted screening pilots underway

Workforce Expansion

Government plans include:- Training 1,000 additional mental health professionals by 2030- Integrating mental health into primary care training- Developing community mental health worker programs

How to Use This Data

For Researchers

Access global datasets: WHO, IHME Global Burden of Disease, DHS

Request Bangladesh-specific data: Contact NIMH Bangladesh, DGHS

Use search terms: "mental health dataset kaggle," "Bangladesh mental health survey data," "depression prevalence Bangladesh"

Publish and share: Contribute to the evidence base

For Advocates

Cite statistics: Use prevalence and treatment gap data to make the case

Compare: Show Bangladesh vs. regional/global benchmarks

Highlight trends: Demonstrate growing need and opportunity

Call for action: Use budget data to advocate for increased funding

For Students

Research projects: Access open datasets for analysis

Understand context: Know the landscape before entering the field

Identify gaps: Find areas needing more research

For Policy Makers

Benchmark: Compare with similar countries

Track progress: Monitor key indicators over time

Allocate resources: Use data to guide investment decisions

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Where can I find mental health datasets for research?

Global datasets are available through WHO, IHME (Global Burden of Disease), and Kaggle. For Bangladesh-specific data, contact NIMH Bangladesh or review published research. Search "mental health dataset kaggle" for accessible datasets.

What percentage of Bangladeshis have mental health conditions?

Approximately 16.8% of adults (about 28 million people) have a mental health condition, according to the 2024 National Mental Health Survey.

How big is the treatment gap in Bangladesh?

The treatment gap is approximately 92.3%, meaning over 9 in 10 people with mental health conditions receive no treatment.

How many psychiatrists are there in Bangladesh?

Bangladesh has approximately 350+ psychiatrists (about 0.21 per 100,000 population), significantly below WHO recommendations.

Is mental health data from Bangladesh reliable?

Data quality has improved significantly with recent national surveys and WHO collaboration. However, stigma may lead to underreporting, and rural populations may be underrepresented in some studies.

Contributing to Better Data

Good data drives better mental health outcomes. You can contribute by:

Participating in surveys: When invited, provide honest responses

Supporting research: Participate in ethical research studies

Advocating for investment: Push for better data collection systems

Using data responsibly: Cite sources and avoid misrepresentation

Mindspace: Bridging the Gap

At Mindspace, we use data to guide our mission of making mental health support accessible in Bangladesh. Our work includes:

- Directory of professionals: /professionals- Service information: /services- Educational resources: /mental-health-o-pedia

Data shows the challenge is significant—but also that progress is possible. Every person who accesses care closes the treatment gap a little more.

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For more information about mental health in Bangladesh, visit Mindspace at mindspacebd.com — your resource for mental health education and support.