Fewer than one in five Bangladeshi women with symptoms of anxiety or depression seek help, and most turn to family rather than medical professionals, according to a new study published in BMJ Open.
Researchers analyzed data from the 2022 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey, covering 2,881 women aged 15 to 49. They found just 18.7% sought assistance, with 52% relying on relatives and only 15% consulting doctors.
Women over 30, from wealthier households, with at least secondary education, or who were employed were significantly more likely to seek care.
Unexpectedly, women with high empowerment scores in decision-making and attitudes toward rejecting domestic violence were less likely to seek help. The authors suggest empowered women may prefer self-reliance or distrust weak mental health services.
The findings highlight an urgent need to expand access to professional mental healthcare and address stigma in Bangladesh.