Mental health problems among Rwandan youth – patterns and causes as described by adults working with Rwandan adolescents

Abstract

Master thesis, Programme in Medicine, TITLE: Mental health problems among Rwandan youth – patterns and causes as described by adults working with Rwandan adolescents. Background: Rwanda is an African low-income country. A rapid population growth together with a tragic modern history with the genocide 1994 has shaped a very young population exposed to several potential risk factors for mental illness such as the widespread poverty and the not clarified role of the traumatic experiences of their parents. That combination can be devastating in the future since mental illness in young age makes a risk for similar problems later in life as well as an elevated risk of somatic disorders. Mental illnesses are among the most costly diseases measured in economic terms as well as in human suffering. Aim: Explore patterns and causes of mental illness among the generation born in Rwanda after the genocide 1994. Methods: Asking for their experience-based understanding on the topic, 21 semi structured interviews with adult professionals working with children and adolescents in Rwanda were carried out. Among the informants were teachers, social workers and different professionals trained in either psychology or psychiatry. 18 of the interviews were later analyzed using inductive content analysis. Results: Four main categories were identified and explored; Symptoms, Possible causes to impaired mental health among Rwandans born after 1994, How Rwanda deals with impaired mental health among youth, Gender aspects. Symptoms mentioned were mainly abnormal behavior and signs on affective disorders. The main causes were poverty, the genocide, family issues and drugs. The general opinion was that the country has improved its work with these issues lately but that the public knowledge is still too low. Discussion/Conclusions: Mental illness is an important health issue also in the Rwandan generation born after the genocide, partly due to factors within the Rwandan society. Mood and behavioral disorders can be caused by family problems such as conflicts and bad relationships, in many cases maybe originating from poverty or the events of genocide. Family planning, preventing violence, poverty reduction and educating staff as well as students on mental health issues in schools could benefit the future mental health status of Rwanda. Key words: Mental health, Rwanda, Adolescents, Social medicine, Content analysis