Juveniles at correction centre need treatment

Juveniles at correction centre need treatment

Dr. Shafquat Waheed, Assistant Professor, Department of Adult Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka

The recent incident at a juvenile correction centre at Tongi caused much uproar in the news media. But the solution has not been discussed. Juvenile correction centres accommodate children who have had criminal records. These children may have various psychiatric illnesses like conduct disorder, substance abuse or drug addiction, hyperactivity disorder, personality disorder, etc., which require psychiatric attention. Moreover, their sudden rage or impulsivity requires prompt treatment with psychiatric medications.
Apart from all those administrative measures taken, I think psychiatric assessment and treatment of these self-harming boys are necessary. Dillydallying in such treatment may make their recovery difficult if not put their life in peril.