Today is the 16th World Mental Health Day. a day for global mental health education, awareness and advocacy.

The day was first celebrated in 1992 at the initiative of World Federation for Mental Health, a global mental health organisation with members and contacts in more than 150countries.

United Nations decided the theme of the day this year as 'Making mental health a global priority: Scaling up services through citizen advocacy and action'.

National Institute for Mental Health under the authority of health and family welfare ministry has taken extensive programmes to observe the day.

Special programmes will be observed in four model upazilas of Sonargaon, Dhamrai, Kaliganj and Keraniganj. Leaflets, posters, folders and banners will be distributed at the discussions and rallies.

The institute will organise a discussion tomorrow at its conference hall at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar with

President of National Forum for Psychiatry, ProfAKM Nazimuddaula Chowdhury in thechair.

DGHS Director General MA Fbyez will be present at the programme as the chief guest while Dr Md Faruk Alam will present a keynote paper and Prof Dr AHM Firoz will deliver the welcome speech.

With the support of National Forum of Organisations Working with the Disabled (NFOWD) and ActionAid, Welfare Society for Mental Health and Rehabilitation is going to organisea roundtable atthe National Press Club at 3:00pm today

Director General of the Department of Social Service Dr Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury will be present as the chief guest at the programme.

Disability Bangladesh and Bangla Chalachitra Sangsad will jointly organise a two-day film exhibition todayand tomorrow at Alomgir Kabir Film Centre at 62. Science Laboratory Road, Dhanmondi.

'Girls Interrupted' and 'A Beautiful Mind' will be screened on the first day and 'Forest Gump' wall be screened on the last day. The films screeningwill beopenedfor all.