As mental health illnesses continue to rise in our society, so does the stigma targeting the patients. The latest reports on the issue suggest that there’s a rise in mental illnesses among the general public. The situation has been exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic and survivors of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi as well as those how have survived the virus are the most affected. Figures from the National Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Ndera, indicate that some 2,804 patients with alcohol and drug-related illnesses sought consultation in 2016, a steep rise compared to 2009 when 440 patients were recorded. It is projected that the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic will worsen the social-economic challenges of many people and drive up cases of mental health. From distress and suicidal thoughts, patients continue to suffer a wide range of challenges. One of the adversaries these patients face the sustained stigma, which forces them to conceal their conditions and hence avoid seeking help. Students and employees alike who have mental illnesses have been subjected to all sorts of prejudices. The latest information shows that students often say that they are willing to pay to seek mental health support services elsewhere instead of utilising the free ones provided by their institutions. This is due to the fear of being labelled derogatory names like ‘mad’ that are usually given to mental health patients. Many employees in the country don’t receive any form of emotional and mental health support services from their employers. 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. We have previously argued that in order to avert a possible crisis in the future, we must include mental health in our Covid-19 national recovery plan. Now, this should be backed with appropriate resources to help sensitize the public to embrace people battling with mental health challenges. But most importantly this is a battle we should fight together as a society.
