Bangladesh needs thousands of trained social workers at the grassroots level to address mental health problems and underlying social challenges, Social Welfare Minister Prof Dr AZM Zahid Hossain said on Sunday.

“Hundreds of trained social workers are not enough; we need thousands and thousands of social workers,” he said, calling on university teachers and experts to develop training programmes that would prepare skilled workers to serve people at the grassroots level.

The Minister made these remarks at a seminar titled “Lived Experiences to Meaningful Change: Promoting Clinical Social Work Practice in Mental Health”, arranged by the Clinical Social Workers Association of Bangladesh (CSWAB) at the University of Dhaka marking World Mental Health Day 2026.

He said mental health and social problems cannot be resolved through law enforcement, medical treatment or awareness campaigns alone, stressing the need for long-term rehabilitation, community engagement and coordinated efforts across different sectors.

Referring to recent incidents in Cumilla involving children and the persistence of child marriage, he said, such problems required a deeper understanding of their social and psychological causes, alongside effective intervention and rehabilitation.

He stressed that clinical social workers could play a vital role in identifying the circumstances that lead to harmful behaviour and supporting affected individuals and their families.

Awareness campaigns and punitive measures alone would not ensure lasting change without sustained community-level engagement, he added.

The Minister also called for reviewing social work education and professional training to ensure that qualified personnel could be deployed according to actual needs.

He said the government is working to address gaps in workforce planning, career prospects and the coordination of professional standards.

The government would need the support of non-government organisations and trained professionals to expand community-based services, he added.

“An inclusive society must put every person first,” Zahid said, calling on experts to submit proposals and work with the government to strengthen social work and mental health services.

State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr MA Muhit, DU VC Prof Dr ABM Obaidul Islam, among others, also spoke at the event.