The 171st session of the free anti-drug counseling program organized by Prothom Alo Trust was held on August 2, 2025, at the Prothom Alo office in Karwan Bazar, Dhaka. At the session, experts addressed the topic "What Parents Should Do When Children Face Mental Crisis" — with Professor Dr. Mohit Kamal, former director of the National Institute of Mental Health, and Professor Mekhala Sarkar, a psychiatrist, providing guidance.
Key Parenting Guidelines
During the session, Professor Mekhala Sarkar presented several practical guidelines for parenting. She emphasized that instead of imposing strict discipline, parents should listen to their children and value their opinions. Parents should strive to understand their children's mental and physical needs and work to fulfill all necessary and reasonable demands.Concerns Over Mobile Phone Addiction
Several parents at the counseling session expressed concerns about their children's mobile phone addiction. The experts discussed strategies to address this issue, placing significant emphasis on the parent-child relationship and communication. Key recommendations highlighted during the discussion included increasing attention toward children, arranging alternative forms of entertainment, and setting time limits for device usage.According to the experts, understanding a child's mental distress and maintaining open, regular communication can significantly reduce technology dependence. Parents were advised to tackle this issue with patience and empathy.
