Bangladeshi men have been hit hard by the epidemic – in terms of higher death rates compared to other societies, industry closures and job losses. But as the lockdown eases, many fear that the pandemic’s impact on their mental health will be overlooked.
Imran Khan lost his father earlier this year due to the Coronavirus. While he’s been reaching out to this GP for support, other Bangladeshi men are less likely to do so, says psychologist Shah Alam. He believes Islam can play a major role in pushing men to open up and reduce stigma surrounding mental health issues. Imam Sheikh Abdullah Hassan has been exploring this – he has provided mental health kits to more than 200 imams and scholars across the UK.
If you are affected by the issues in this story, help and support are available at BBC Action Line.
Produced by Nalini Sivathasan, BBC Asian Network.
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