The Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) and Imbuto Foundation have partnered to launch the Baho Neza-Mental Health project to tackle the mental health issues plaguing the Rwandan population.

This project seeks to address the urgent problem of mental health in Rwanda and is focusing on six districts: Nyamasheke, Nyaruguru, Nyagatare, Musanze, Bugesera, and Gasabo. The aim of this project is to raise awareness of mental health among families and foster better well-being in these communities.

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Recognising the family as the fundamental unit of society, the project aims to provide special attention to vulnerable groups such as mothers and their children, adolescents and young people, as well as Genocide survivors. The ultimate goal is to connect them to the necessary mental health services available at their respective health centres.

Alumni from the Genocide Survivors’ Students Association (GAERG), an organisation devoted to championing mental wellbeing and resilience, are contributing to the implementation of the project in Bugesera District (Eastern Province) and Gasabo District (Kigali City).

GAERG proactively organised an extensive awareness campaign across eight cells in the Bugesera and Gasabo districts to address the challenges encountered during the implementation of the project. This intensive campaign successfully reached over 1,500 individuals within a span of two days, specifically June 13 and 14.

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Also, the mental health awareness campaign was conducted in Musenyi, Rulindo, Kintambwe, and Nyaburoro cells, among others, where it had not been previously conducted.

The campaign sought to educate community members about mental health, create a nurturing atmosphere that encourages seeking help, and dispel any stigma associated with mental health issues. Furthermore, community members were encouraged to participate in the Baho Neza safe spaces established within their communities.

Redempta Kayitesi, a staff member of GAERG’s Healing and Resilience programme, emphasised the importance of raising awareness and providing mental health information to the community.

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"The goal is to promote a better understanding of mental health, eradicate stigma and misconceptions, and increase access to support services within the community,” she said.

Kayitesi urged community members to actively engage in the Baho Neza safe spaces as part of their journey towards mental well-being.

The impact of the campaign was evident as participants shared their experiences, noting the valuable information they gained about recognising mental health issues, opening up to friends and family, and seeking help when needed.

The findings of a 2018 mental health survey highlighted concerning prevalence rates of mental disorders in Rwanda. The survey revealed that within the general population, the prevalence of mental disorders stood at 20.5 per cent among a sample size of 19,110 individuals.

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Additionally, among survivors of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, the prevalence rate was even higher, reaching 52.2 per cent within a sub-sample of 1,271 individuals. The most commonly observed mental disorders in the general population were major depressive episodes, affecting 12 per cent of respondents, followed by panic disorder at 8.1 per cent and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at 3.6 per cent.

Among the Genocide survivors, the prevalence of major depressive episodes stood at a staggering 35 per cent, with PTSD and panic disorders affecting 27.9 per cent and 26.8 per cent respectively.

The survey also revealed a notable prevalence of alcohol use disorder, reported at 1.6 per cent within the general population and four per cent among the Genocide survivors.

These findings emphasise the urgent need for comprehensive mental health support and interventions in Rwanda to address the significant burden of mental disorders in both the general population and among Genocide survivors.