The mental health status of indigenous people in Bangladesh has attracted little or no attention. The objective of the present study is to determine the extent of symptoms of anxiety and depression in the two largest indigenous communities in Bangladesh.

In total, 240 participants were recruited, 120 from each of the Marma and Chakma communities with an overall mean age of 44.09 years (s.d. 15.73). Marma people were older (mean ages 48.92 v. 39.25, p < 0.001). Participants completed the Anxiety Scale (AS) and Depression Scale (DS) that have been developed and standardised in Bangladesh in the Bangla (Bengali) language.

Results indicated that anxiety and depression scores were elevated in both communities, 59.2% of the participants scoring above the cut-off for clinical significance on AS and 58.8% of the participants scoring above the cut-off for clinical significance on DS. Marma people compared to Chakma people were more anxious (M = 59.49 v. 43.00, p < 0.001) and more depressed (M = 106.78 v. 82.30, p < 0.001). The demographic variables of age, sex and socioeconomic status were weakly or inconsistently related to scores. In the Marma people, females scored higher on both AS and DS, but in the Chakma community, males scored higher on AS and the same on DS.

The finding of significant anxiety and depression in communities with such limited mental health services is a matter of concern and emphasises the need to formulate and implement appropriate mental health policies for indigenous people in Bangladesh and other parts of the world.