Guardian Life Insurance Limited has launched a mental health support service that allows people to speak with mental health professionals by calling its customer service centre.
Under the initiative, titled “Healing Call”, callers can dial Guardian’s call centre number, 16622, and press 8 to speak with professionals from mental health support organisations Kaan Pete Roi and The Purpleline.
The service will be available daily from 3pm to 3am, according to a company statement issued on Saturday. The initiative comes as mental health remains a public health concern in Bangladesh, where social stigma and fear of judgement often discourage people from discussing their struggles or seeking professional support.
Around 30 million people in Bangladesh suffer from some form of mental health condition, according to data from the National Institute of Mental Health cited in the statement.
Healing Call aims to provide a space where people can discuss mental stress, anxiety, worries and other personal concerns with professionals without fear of being judged.
Guardian said the initiative was part of its broader focus on health and wellbeing alongside its core business of providing financial protection. The company is using its existing call centre, mobile app and website to make mental health support more accessible.
It also plans to expand the initiative through further collaboration with organisations and professionals working in mental health, with the aim of reaching more people across the country.