In Bangladesh, mental health services are scarce, often shaped by Western psychiatric models that overlook Indigenous communities. These communities not only struggle with limited access to care but also face a deeper form of exclusion—one that disregards their cultural knowledge and healing traditions.
In a recent article published in Cambridge Prisms: Global Mental Health, Omar Faruk discusses this exclusion, describing it as epistemic injustice—the systematic devaluation of Indigenous ways of knowing. Through case studies from Bangladesh, Faruk highlights how this injustice contributes to ongoing mental health disparities.
Faruk proposes a six-part framework aimed at fostering greater inclusion in mental health systems. The framework, grounded in cultural sensitivity, community collaboration, and human rights, offers a practical model for integrating Indigenous perspectives into care, both in Bangladesh and within global mental health initiatives.
“Indigenous peoples worldwide, including in Bangladesh, face higher risks of mental health issues due to historical and systemic factors like colonialism and inadequate healthcare access,” Faruk writes. “Epistemic injustice plays a critical role in perpetuating the marginalization of Indigenous voices in knowledge creation and healthcare, further exacerbating mental health disparities.”
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