Planting Seeds of Change: Training for Our New Community Mental Health and Carers Project in Dinajpur, Bangladesh
There’s a special kind of energy that fills the air when something meaningful is just beginning. That’s exactly what we felt during the recent training for newly recruited staff of our partner organisation, Centre for Disability in Development (CDD), in Dinajpur – the heart of our newest community mental health and carers project in Bangladesh, generously supported by the Vitol Foundation.
This wasn’t just another training programme. It marked the first step in what we hope will become a transformative journey for individuals living with mental health conditions and the unpaid family carers who support them, often silently and selflessly.
The newly recruited team – including experienced community facilitators, psychosocial counsellors, a dedicated field manager and a senior coordinator – came together with one goal: to understand, to support, and to make a difference.
Laying the Foundations
The training was designed to build a strong foundation, equipping the team with essential knowledge and tools for the road ahead. Sessions introduced key concepts of health and mental health, techniques for distress assessment, and guidance on identifying early signs and symptoms of mental illness. Myths and misconceptions were openly challenged, and the differences between mental illness and intellectual developmental disabilities were clearly unpacked.
“This training has opened my eyes to a world that many of us don't see. I feel proud to be part of something that can truly change lives. We’re not just learning – we’re becoming part of a movement.”
The team engaged in meaningful discussions around risks and protective factors, case presentations, and how to respond in a compassionate, informed, and practical way. As the sessions deepened, so too did the team’s understanding of how to address stigma, offer support, and build trust within the communities they will serve.
“People with mental illness deserve to be seen, heard, and supported with dignity. The stigma they face is real and painful. This training reminded me how awareness can change minds – and how community support can change lives. This will be the first of its kind in Bangladesh.”
Invisible No More
One of the most powerful parts of the training was dedicated to recognising the often-overlooked role of unpaid family carers – the parents, siblings, spouses, and children who carry the weight of care behind closed doors. Without them, daily life for many people with mental illness would be unmanageable. Yet unpaid carers themselves are too often unsupported, unheard, and overwhelmed.
We explored ways to reduce their isolation, address their own health needs, and offer them opportunities for rest, education, employment and personal growth. Through role play, group discussions, and shared reflections, the team learned how to stand alongside unpaid carers – not as just service providers, but as advocates and allies.
“Unpaid carers are the invisible lifeline for so many people. They carry so much on their shoulders. This training helped me see how essential it is to support them – not as an afterthought, but as a core part of mental health care.”
Most importantly, we talked about supporting unpaid carers to become more confident in advocating for themselves. Unpaid carers need to be heard. They should be able to speak up for their needs and rights, take part in decisions, and feel confident advocating for change - in their families, communities, and beyond.
“The sessions on mental health and unpaid carers were particularly powerful. I realised how often their needs are overlooked, even though they give everything to support their loved ones. This training has helped me understand how we can walk alongside them, not just as supporters, but as allies fighting for their rights and wellbeing.”
First Steps on a Shared Journey
Alongside the training, our early steps in Dinajpur have included engaging with local leaders, identifying key stakeholders, including psychiatrists, and beginning the process of identifying families who could benefit from our programme and starting our baseline surveys. The energy from everyone involved has been deeply encouraging.
There’s a real desire for change - for understanding, compassion, and support that’s rooted in dignity and inclusion. And we’re excited to walk this journey together.
At the heart of this project is one simple but powerful belief: no one should have to face mental health challenges alone. Whether we’re talking with an unpaid carer, listening to a young person in distress, or supporting a family through difficult times - we are planting seeds of hope.
And just like any seed, with care and commitment, it will grow.
If you would like to support us and the work that we do across South Asia, then please do give a gift today and make an impact on the lives of unpaid carers.
