The Rwanda Ministry of Health (MINISANTE) has announced a significant decline in the number of Rwandans living with mental health conditions over the past five years.
According to the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Yvan Butera, the prevalence of mental health problems dropped from 20.5% in 2018 to 18.6% in 2025, reflecting progress in mental health care services across the country.
Depression and Trauma Cases Show Major Decline
Dr. Butera explained that the most common mental health conditions have shown notable improvement.
Cases of severe depression decreased from 11.9% in 2018 to 9.1% in 2025, while trauma-related mental disorders fell sharply from 8% to 3% over the same period.
“These initial findings show that the investments we are making in mental health services are producing positive results,” Dr. Butera said, adding that the full report is still being finalized.
Substance Abuse-Related Disorders on the Rise
Despite the overall progress, the Ministry raised concern over a rise in mental health problems linked to alcohol and drug abuse.
Disorders related to substance use increased from 1.6% in 2018 to 2.4% in 2025, highlighting a growing public health challenge, particularly among vulnerable groups.
Other mental health conditions recorded in the report include:
- Epilepsy: 3.0%
- Bipolar disorder: 0.4%
- Suicidal thoughts: 0.9%
- Addiction-related disorders: 0.8%
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): 3.3%
Adults Most Affected by Mental Health Conditions
The data shows that middle-aged adults are the most affected.
People aged 46 to 55 account for 25% of those with mental health conditions, followed by:
- 36–45 years: 24%
- 56–65 years: 23.6%
Among younger age groups:
- 26–35 years: 18.2%
- 19–25 years: 13.7%
- 14–18 years: 8.7%
Expanded Mental Health Services Across Rwanda
Dr. Butera highlighted that Rwanda has expanded mental health services nationwide.
The country relies on nearly 60,000 community health workers who provide first-line support. Mental health services are now available in about 80% of health centers, alongside specialized hospitals dedicated to mental health care.
Access to medication has also improved, with 14 types of mental health drugs available at health centers and 20 types at referral hospitals.
Ketamine Clinic Shows Promising Results
Rwanda has also introduced specialized treatment for severe depression at the King Faisal Hospital, through a dedicated Ketamine Clinic.
The clinic treats patients with extreme depression and suicidal tendencies using Ketamine, a medication that has shown positive outcomes in patients who did not respond to conventional treatment.
Addressing concerns raised by lawmakers about Ketamine’s safety, Dr. Darius Gishoma, Head of Mental Health Services at the Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC), explained that the drug is internationally approved for mental health treatment.
“Although Ketamine was initially used in veterinary medicine, it has been used safely in mental health care for over 20 years,” Dr. Gishoma said. “Scientific research shows it is effective, especially for patients who have attempted suicide multiple times.”
He added that Rwanda will continue research to ensure safe and effective use of the treatment.
Continued Commitment to Mental Health Care
Health officials emphasized that while progress has been made, more work remains, particularly in preventing substance abuse and expanding access to mental health services.
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening mental health care as a key pillar of Rwanda’s public health system.
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