Mental disorders or illnesses can be simply explained as conditions that affect one’s thinking, feeling, mood and behaviour. Some of these conditions may occur but end at a given period of time, whereas others are chronic, meaning that they last for a lifetime. Rwanda, as many other countries in the world, is experiencing cases of mental illnesses, especially among survivors of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. In fact, a Rwanda Mental Health survey carried out between 2017 and December 2018 indicates that about 223,500 people sought consultation in public hospitals for mental health-related treatment in 2018. The research by Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) that sampled 19,110 respondents aged between 14 and 65 years old, who represented the country’s population, revealed prevalent mental illnesses in the country. As the world marks the World Mental Health Day – observed on October 10, every year – The New Times outlines the five most common mental disorders in the country, and their respective signs; Major Depressive Episode According to RBC’s research, the disorder stands at 11.9 per cent in Rwanda. Symptoms of this illness include feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt, diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness nearly every day, and recurrent thoughts of death. A person with a Major Depressive Episode also experiences depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day, and diminished interest in pleasure in all, or almost all, activities. Panic Disorder Panic Disorder, which stands at 8.1 per cent in Rwanda causes panic attacks which are sudden feelings of terror for no reason. The symptoms may also show on the outside, whereby the person with the illness may feel fast heartbeat, chest pain, breathing difficulty and dizziness among others. For some people, fear takes over their lives and they cannot leave their homes. People with panic disorder are advised to go for therapy, which shows the person how to recognize and change their thinking patterns before they lead to panic. Medicines can also help. Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) According to RBC, PTSD stands at 3.6 per cent in the country. In most cases, the symptoms of the illness develop during the first month after a traumatic event. But in a minority of cases, there may be a delay of months or even years before symptoms start to appear. The dominant symptoms of PTSD are: avoiding certain people or places that remind you of the trauma, or avoiding talking to anyone about your experience. They may also include trouble sleeping and upsetting nightmares about a familiar traumatic event. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Ranking fourth in most prevalent mental illness in Rwanda with 3.6 per cent, OCD features a pattern of unwanted thoughts and fears (obsessions) that lead you to do repetitive behaviours (compulsions). However, engaging in the compulsions brings no pleasure and may offer only temporary relief from anxiety. So far, there’s no sure way to prevent obsessive-compulsive disorder. However, getting treatment as soon as possible may help prevent OCD from worsening and disrupting activities and your daily routine. Epilepsy Epilepsy is referred to as a mental illness whereby a person with it experiences recurring or unpredictable seizures. The seizures may cause uncontrollable jerking movements of the arms and legs, loss of consciousness or awareness, staring spells and memory loss among others. Epilepsy stands at 2.9 per cent in Rwanda. As reiterated by health experts, it is okay to not feel okay, and the sooner one gets treatment for a given mental disorder, the more chances of recovering from the illness.
