“We Need Everything”
A qualitative study of Rohingya men’s mental health & psychosocial support (MHPSS) needs
and service engagement in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh
We were hired by a doctoral candidate to produce a series of comic strips that illustrate qualitative data for a study on Rohingya men’s MHPSS needs and service engagement in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. The research was done through the Department of Mental Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The qualitative study was compiled in poster form and presented to the public by the doctoral candidate.
This study was conducted to understand how men conceptualize their own MHPSS needs, in order to better promote MHPSS interventions for Rohingya men.
19 Rohingya fathers were interviewed in Bangladesh to gain an understanding of the current MHPSS needs. Books Unbound’s role was to transform the statements of these Rohingya fathers into cartoons, adding an engaging and visually appealing element to the study.
Our extensive research and presence within the Rohingya community over the past several years played a crucial role in shaping the development of these scenes.
Some of the key takeaways of the study include:
-
“MHPSS initiatives hoping to engage trauma-affected men must address contextual stressors.
-
A case management approach may be more acceptable than psychosocial counseling alone.
-
There is little funding or incentive to address men’s concerns; perceived as less vulnerable, they are rarely prioritized for aid.
-
However, men hold critical roles in families and communities, and their wellbeing profoundly impacts the entire family system.”
We were honored to be chosen for this project, helping to raise awareness about the mental health challenges men face in the context of displacement. This important issue is often overlooked, and there’s a significant need for more focus and attention on it.
Some comments about our artwork from the client:
I’m so thankful! I can’t overstate how wonderfully helpful these were. Lots of people came to take pictures of my poster…this started so many great conversations.
Learn more about our custom projects here.
