Background:
Despite the growing recognition of mental health issues globally, there remains a lack of clarity and understanding among students regarding this important aspect of wellness. However mental health awareness and support are critical components of holistic well-being, particularly in academic settings. Recognizing this, the project is initiated to gain a preliminary understanding of students’ mental health primarily by focusing on the students at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology in Sylhet, Bangladesh. By delving into students’ perceptions, attitudes, and experiences related to mental health, the project aims to lay the groundwork for the development of effective coping strategies and support mechanisms tailored to their needs.
Research questions/aims:
This study will explore the following research questions:
- What is the level of mental health awareness and perception among Bangladeshi university students?
- What is the prevalence of mental health concerns among Bangladeshi university students?
- What are the main factors that contribute to mental health issues among Bangladeshi university students?
- How do they address their mental health concerns?
- How accessible are mental health support services on Bangladeshi university campuses, and what challenges do students face when seeking help for their mental health concerns?
Research methods:
This research is going to apply Arts based methodologies and the music elicitation method will be applied to serve the purpose.
Project team:
This initiative is being led by Dr. Sharif Haider of the Open University in the United Kingdom and Associate Professor Md. Fakhrul Alam of the Department of Social Work at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology in Sylhet, Bangladesh. Dr. Haider and Mr. Alam are joined by seven co-investigators from Shahjalal University of Science and Technology’s Department of Social Work: Md. Pyas Sarkar, Sinchon Deb Swarna, Shamsi Mubaraka Ahona, Tanjina Zaman Rochi, Trishna Roy, Md. Golam Nobin, and Md. Ataur Rahman.