In early 2023, an unprecedented mental health initiative titled Shurokkhay Manoshik Shashtho (Caring for Your Mental Health) was launched by Channel 24, a leading mainstream television channel in Bangladesh. This weekly show marked the first time in the nation’s broadcasting history that a primetime slot was devoted entirely to exploring mental health—an issue still shrouded in stigma, silence, and underfunding in the country. Co-hosted by a team of globally trained digital mental health researchers, public health professional and medical doctor, this initiative leverages science communication, digital storytelling, and inclusive dialogue to bring critical mental health topics to the forefront of national discourse. Through a consultation process, each episode featured curated discussions involving mental health professionals, researchers, advocates, and individuals with lived experiences. 106 episodes have addressed a wide range of subdomains—from adolescent mental health, parenting, and dementia, to climate-induced stress, refugee mental health, disability, and the intersection of gender, sexuality, and mental wellbeing. The show has made deliberate efforts to center marginalised voices—including coastal communities, the transgender population, and persons with disabilities—thereby positioning itself as an inclusive and rights-based intervention. In a nation with only ~500 trained mental health professionals serving 180 million people, and where the treatment gap exceeds 90%, this initiative provides an urgently needed platform to counter stigma, promote mental health literacy, and spotlight digital and community-based solutions. The viewership and impact metrics are striking: over 717,000 YouTube views, 35 million impressions, 41000+ hours of watch time, and a rapidly growing audience base with more than 14.8 million subscribers on the platform Beyond broadcast, the initiative has supported national and international conferences by featuring their sessions and inviting academic experts from global institutions. Collaborators include National Institute of Mental Health- Bangladesh, Planetary Health Academia, Moner Bondhu, Psycure Organisation, Public Health Foundation Bangladesh, and the eMental Health International Collaborative (eMHIC), among others.This is not simply a talk show—it is a digital mental health intervention operating at the intersection of mass media, public engagement, and global health. In a politically sensitive and resource-constrained setting, this model has successfully promoted diversity, inclusion, and youth leadership. By centering lived experience and evidence-based discourse, it demonstrates how public-facing media can be used to advance population-level mental health outcomes and policy dialogue. As a scalable and locally rooted innovation, Shurokkhay Manoshik Shashtho offers a replicable model for other low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) facing similar structural and social barriers to mental health care.
