Rwanda: Depression the leading cause of disability in youth, says report
May 23, 2014
A study recently released by the World Health Organization (WHO), “Health of the World’s Adolescents,” reports that depression and mental health problems are the most common causes of illness and disability in children between 10 and 19 years old – and that suicide is one of the top three causes of death for this group. Rwanda is one of relatively few countries with a national policy in place that addresses adolescent mental health needs. The policy promotes awareness, coordination among mental health services, and collaboration between stakeholders and international organizations. “All the 462 health centers in the country have at minimum a general health practitioner who can address mental health issues,” said Yvonne Kayiteshonga, head of the mental health division at Rwanda Biomedical Centre. Youth programs often focus on posttraumatic stress disorder, which is prevalent in Rwanda. Dr. Kayiteshonga credits the national policy with having helped Rwanda increase its workforce of mental health professionals, addressing an earlier shortage. Now, she says, “…we are putting efforts into educating the population about mental health issues.”
Spark Extra! Read Rwanda’s National Mental Health Policy.