Coronavirus has exacerbated mental illnesses among the general public, particularly among the survivors of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and those who have survived the pandemic.

From isolation to financial uncertainty and the heightened fear of contagion, the pandemic is taking its toll on the physical and mental wellbeing of our population.

The mental health impact of the pandemic is likely to be big, if not addressed urgently, because some people are enduring the trauma related to the loss of their loved ones as well as the loss of jobs. Others have fallen sick and recovered from the virus, while some have endured overstressing while serving on the front lines.

Visits from friends and family are part of the therapy, but these are now ruled out due to the lockdown and other Covid-19 related restrictions.  According to medical experts, these confinements have now triggered stress, anxiety, depression, and possibly addictions.

The Covid-19 measures have also restricted therapists including social workers from visiting their patients. As a result, some therapists moved their rehab sessions to virtual platforms—voice and video calls.

This approach is commendable, but it has its challenges. It eliminates direct contact between the therapist and the patient, an important aspect in gauging how the patient is coping.  

Secondly, it has its limitations when it comes to outreach. Not every patient is capable of logging in on a platform to seek the necessary help for obvious reasons; some do not have the know-how and the necessary infrastructure in place is lacking.

We need to urgently explore the best possible ways to support people’s mental wellbeing, particularly vulnerable groups such as genocide survivors and healthcare workers.

For genocide survivors, it is even more urgent as the country prepares to mark the 21 commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi, a period during which many mental health challenges are most prevalent.

Rwanda Biomedical Centre figures show that depression prevalence in Rwanda is 11.9 per cent. Some 35.6 per cent are genocide survivors, meaning one in three genocide survivors faces trauma. Prevalence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) stands at 3.6 per cent.

Now is the time to give this issue the urgent attention that it deserves because there appears to be a growing sense of anxiety and overstress, which could also put enormous pressure on our health system in the post-Covid-19 era.  

We must urgently look into the future. In order to avert a possible crisis in the future, we must include mental health in our Covid-19 national recovery plan.