I was diagnosed as having obsessive-compulsive behaviour (OCD) when I was 22 years old, but I have had OCD all my life. Looking back, it was so obvious, yet how I never got diagnosed earlier is beyond me. Better late than never; at least now I know why I am ‘compelled’ to do the things that I do.

There needs to be a concerted effort to decrease the burden on our youth and listen to their problems intently

The stigmatisation of mental health care needs to be eradicated by those at the upper portion of the pyramids.

We call Dhaka a noisy city, but hardly ever do I feel like the noise stops at our doorsteps.

For Mahera help came not only in the form of relatable characters, but also the physical comfort derived from holding onto a book. "I've carried a book or a Kindle with me during the worst times of my life. It's like a security blanket," she told me.