SAJIDA Mental Health Programme

PROSHANTI, a project by SAJIDA Foundation, is a community-based supportive living service for individuals with chronic mental illnesses, particularly from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Moving away from institutional models, PROSHANTI offers a compassionate, structured alternative by housing residents in shared homes that foster a family-like environment. These spaces provide clinical support alongside the healing power of connection, routine, and community. The program follows a 24-month, four-phase intervention—covering functionality development, social engagement, capacity building, and livelihood support. Through this model, residents are gradually empowered to manage their health, build essential life skills, pursue education or vocational training, and prepare for reintegration into society or family life.

Grounded in a person-centered, rights-based approach, PROSHANTI is led by a multidisciplinary team, largely composed of non-specialist assistants offering daily care and mentorship. Its strong referral network—including institutions like Pabna Mental Health Hospital and the National Institute of Mental Health—ensures steady client intake and knowledge sharing. In its pilot phase, seven homes were established in Habiganj and Manikganj, supporting 40 residents. Some have already taken on assistant roles in clinics, while others are preparing for employment. These early results underscore PROSHANTI’s potential to break cycles of neglect and redefine mental health recovery in Bangladesh.

Recognized by World Health Organization (WHO):
PROSHANTI’s innovative approach has also gained international recognition—being featured twice by the World Health Organization (WHO) South-East Asia Region (SEAR) in 2024.

It was highlighted in the module on Deinstitutionalization of People with Mental Health Conditions, as well as in the Community-Based Mental Health Services report, reinforcing the program’s significance as a replicable model for rights-based, community-rooted mental health care. By fostering dignity, autonomy, and inclusion, PROSHANTI is not just filling a gap in the mental health care system—it is actively reshaping the narrative around mental illness.

“SHOJON- tele mental health service” is an initiative of SAJIDA Foundation aiming to ensure mental health care for low, poor, and ultra-poor individuals who otherwise can’t access mental health services. Using this platform any individual sustaining mental distress can take mental health treatment ranging from primary care all the way to long-term intervention such as counseling/psychotherapy and psychiatric support from psychologists and psychiatrists. Anyone from any region of the country can take mental health services in affordable cost using their mobile by calling on a common number. Here, initially a para-counselor provides primary mental health care to a client and then based on psychological assessments refers to SHOJON’s psychologists and/or psychiatrists as per needs. The Helpline No is 09612-119900 & its service remains open every day from 8 am to 8 pm.

SAJIDA Mental Health Program has developed the curriculum of a six-month long certification course on "Community Mental Health Care" with extensive consultations from relevant stakeholders and institutions. The course aims to train and create skilled Community Mental Health Care Workers (CMHWs) who can provide mental healthcare to rural and urban people in Bangladesh. The first round of this course was launched in September 2022 and concluded in February 2023, graduating 18 Participants.

Kaan Pete Roi is the first and only emotional support and suicide prevention helpline in Bangladesh, staffed by trained volunteers, where people can call to receive immediate support. The mission of the helpline is to alleviate feelings of despair, isolation, distress, and suicidal intent among members of our community. Kaan Pete Roi accomplishes this through confidential, compassionate, and open-minded listening.

SAJIDA Mental Health Residential Facility is a first-of-its-kind functionality focused mental health residential facility. The facility will be a 50-bed facility for the people who would not have been able to afford the treatment and care otherwise. As a functionality focused model of intervention’s main goal is to aiming towards improvement of the functionality based on individuals needs which may range from self-care to independent living.

SAJIDA Foundation, British Asian Trust (BAT) and Primark initiated “Moner Kotha Project” with the aim of strengthening mental health well-being for garments workers, especially female workers through the integration of mental health information, support and services across the workplace. Major activities of the project are:

* Mental health sensitization session of 50 senior & mid-level management across 5 factories

* Mental health and wellbeing sessions of 2,500 workers (500 male, 2,000 female) across 5 factories

* Train & develop 50 para-counselors across 5 factories for facilitating para-counseling services