KIGALI, Oct 11 (NNN-IRIN) – Cases of mental health disorders have increased in Rwanda, since the beginning of this year, the Ministry of Health said yesterday.
At least 7,817 patients consulted for depression at Ndera Neuro-Psychiatric Teaching Hospital, from Jan to Aug, higher than 1,743 that were recorded last year, the ministry said.
Majority of the new cases were middle-aged people. The data showed that, 54 percent of registered patients were male, 46 percent female, while children below 19 years of age accounted for 20 percent of the total number of patients.
“The Ministry of Health is committed to implementing all relevant interventions, to reduce incidence of all mental health disorders, including depression,” the statement said, as World Mental Health Day was observed yesterday.
Other top mental illnesses registered in Rwanda included, schizophrenia – 35,581 cases, so far, epilepsy with 13,337 cases and acute and transient psychotic disorders totaling 10,977.
According to health officials, schizophrenia makes one interpret reality abnormally, while acute and transient psychotic disorders are triggered by psychological stress.
Overall, 96,357 patients with mental disorders were recorded in the first eight months of this year, representing a 29.6 percent increase compared to last year, according to the data.
This year’s global theme for World Mental Health Day is: “Make mental health and well-being for all a global priority.”
The World Health Organisation (WHO) representative in Rwanda, Brian Chirombo, said in a message that, the global health agency is supporting the Rwandan government, in collaboration with other partners, to update the mental health strategic plan, that sets new targets for expanding mental health care services to be achieved by 2024.– NNN-IRIN
“The strategy will seek to increase access to quality mental health services by decentralizing and integrating it into primary health care, ensuring services are appropriately budgeted and resourced across sectors,” he said.
On Monday, the WHO said more than 116 million people, mainly adolescents, are living with mental health illnesses in Africa, attributable to socioeconomic pressure among other strains.
