A study conducted by Rwanda Biomedical Centre in 2018, showed that only 30 percent of the people who met the criteria for having mental disorders sought mental health support. Those who never sought the services cited challenges such as fear of stigma, limited financial means, and limited access to the services, while others said they were unaware of the urgency of the services. Regardless of the strategies in place, mental health remains a challenge. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among 15-29-year-olds, according to World Health Organisation. Statistics from Rwanda Investigation Bureau show that between June 2019 and July 2021, at least 579 people committed suicide. On Friday, September 10, as the world celebrates World Suicide Prevention Day, challenges around mental health, in particular, suicide prevention is put centre stage in order to raise awareness about the endemic. The day that is celebrated annually serves to start the conversation about suicide and to show that recovery is possible. This year’s theme, ‘Creating Hope Through Action’ is intended to be a reminder that there is an alternative to suicide and that people’s actions, no matter how big or small, may provide hope to those who are struggling. Dr. Yvonne Kayiteshonga, the head of the Mental Health Division at RBC said this day is an opportunity to sensitize and educate people about pending obstacles as well as mental health services that are available. “We want people to understand that having a mental illness is neither a mistake nor a weakness, and hence they should endeavor to seek support,” she said. Special activities that will be carried out for the day are to be centered on sensitization. The youth are urged to front discussions and awareness because of their influence especially when it comes to such matters, the medic highlights. Prevalence In most cases, people who commit suicide have a mental illness or faced with other stressful life events leading to hopelessness, but depression is the biggest factor in suicide cases, Kayiteshonga said. The 2018 study also showed that 1 out of 5 people have any mental disorder and when it comes to genocide survivors, that prevalence is four times higher. “We have a special category that needs specific attention. Data from that study showed that young adults and older age groups have the highest rate of depression, those who are between the ages of 26-35 have a higher prevalence of suicide behavior disorder compared to other age groups.” “That’s why our strategies of intervention are focused on this age group. We started school-based adolescent mental health programs such that there are daily interventions and early detection because then people can be helped.” Dr. Bizoza Rutakayire, in an earlier interview with The New Times, had shared some warning signs that people reveal when they are at the brink of taking their own life like talking about wanting to die or taking significant risks that could lead to death, such as crossing the road without checking the traffic, talking about feeling empty, hopeless, having no reason to live; talking about feeling trapped, or feeling like there is no solution, talking about being a burden to others, feeling great shame/pain, and withdrawing from family and friends, high anxiety and using alcohol or drugs more often and others. He suggested that suicide could be prevented by: family and friends’ support, spiritual support, giving purpose and meaning of life, and engaging each other in community activities to avoid isolation, hence enhancing social interaction and integration into the community and most importantly, early access to treatment and mental health services.
