Climbing the academic ladder can help people overcome mental health struggles, according to Dr. Yvan Butera, the Minister of State for Health. The minister linked higher education levels to improved mental well-being on Wednesday, June 25, during a consultative meeting on mental health issues. During the meeting, in Parliament, he said: “The more you progress in your education, the more mental health issues tend to decrease. That is why one of the measures the country has considered is to keep children in school until they reach a satisfactory level of education.” ALSO READ: Early signs of mental health struggles you might be ignoring Dr. Butera noted that the link between education and improved mental health is a global reality and not just a local one. “This is not only in Rwanda—it applies elsewhere too. Having attained a certain level of education and living a relatively stable life helps in reducing mental health disorders.” ALSO READ: 35% of Genocide survivors have mental health problems “In the communities we live in, people who experience mental health issues more severely than others are often people who have not gone to school or who did not complete primary education.” Research conducted in 2023 by the University of East Anglia in Norwich, England, revealed that 14% of the world's population has little or no literacy skills. The study also found that people in this group are more likely to experience mental health issues, including loneliness, depression, and anxiety.
