Ndera-Kigali, Monday, October 11, 2021: Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital CARAES Ndera joined the rest of the world to celebrate the World Mental Health Day, in a ceremony graced by the Superior General of the Brothers of Charity, Br. Rene Stockman, and the Director General, Br. Charles Nkubili. Present were also Mr. Ignace Munyaneza, Social Affairs Officer at Ndera Sector, and Mr. Claver Haragirimana, Director of OPROMAMER, a local NGO founded in 2012 by former service users to advocate for mental health patients in Rwanda. Delegates from every service of the hospital who attended the event represented CARAES Ndera, CARAES Butare and Icyizere Psychotherapeutic Center.

Due to the measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 pandemic, however, the number of attendees was limited in order to keep social distancing. Other preventive measures include using hand sanitizers, and the fact that the guests were asked to have negative COVID-19 results taken less than 72 hours before the event.

This ceremony was preceded by mass for patients at CARAES Chapel, and the exhibition of the hospital's activities, with the representatives of services present at their stands and different visitors coming to see how the mental healthcare services are provided to the patients.

Mr. Claver Haragirimana, the Director of OPROMAMER, an initiative that advocates for rights of current and former mental health service users, said that many people still do not believe that one can heal from a mental health illness, but he argued that he is a witness to that; giving an example that he is now a council member of Ndera Sector and that he has always proven that he is able to do the work like other people, despite having had a mental illness in the past. He promised to continue to advocate for mental health patients and ex service users.

"We started the organization in 2012 because only we understand our experiences before anyone else can; someone can support us but it is up to us to stand up and speak for ourselves first," he declared.

Mr. Ignace Munyaneza, the Social Affairs Officer at Ndera Sector, commended the role of the hospital to the population in Rwanda in general, and declared that there is a special partnership between Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital CARAES Ndera and Ndera Sector, because the hospital is located in Ndera Sector.

This partnership mainly involves searching for the patients' families, among other joint activities.

"Local government is cooperating day and night to find the families of the patients, they are also helping in the fight against stigma," he added. On behalf of local authorities, Munyaneza pledged that they will keep sensitizing the society on mental health and convincing them that mental health disorders are treatable illnesses like others.

The Director General of Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital CARAES Ndera, Br. Charles Nkubili, said that the testimonies of Haragirimana and his colleagues emphasize that the services provided by the hospital have positive outcome and the hospital must continue providing them.

"It is important that we show everyone that we are not here to waste people's time, we are not here to inject the so called "Igishinge" (big syringes), we are here to treat patients," he said.

Superior General Br. Rene Stockman, who was the guest of honour at the event, said that in many countries, psychiatric patients are still discriminated, and that it is really important to do everything we have to do to break the stigma, end the discrimination, and to restore the human dignity.

The Superior General delivered a special message to the mental healthcare professionals; urging them to listen more actively to the psychiatric patients. "As therapist or nurse, psychologist and so on... we have to listen.

That is what I can deliver as theme for today; the importance of listening, also the importance of presence," he said, adding that it is how they gain trust from the patients, hence improve their condition.
He also urged the staff to develop a multidisciplinary attitude and teamwork spirit in the interest of the patients.

Br. Rene Stockman, Superior General, who said that Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital CARAES Ndera has highly qualified staff and has good performance, highlighted the development of the hospital and future plans to improve the wellbeing of the neurological and psychiatric patients.

He said there is a plan to start rehabilitation centre for chronic psychiatric patients, a home which will give them a good environment and a better life.

Br. Stockman also highlighted that it is important to work in the field of mental healthcare as a vocation, and urged the professionals to have charity, because when one does something out of love, they do it happily and productively.

He concluded his speech quoting Petrus Joseph Triest, the founder of the Congregation of the Brothers of Charity: "'Give and you shall be given. And again when you give yourself, you receive a lot.

I also experienced that in mental healthcare before, many times I had the experience; when we give something, we receive even more, and I hope also that you can have the same experience."

Meanwhile, Yvonne Uwayezu, a member of OPROMAMER performed a song, saying that mental illnesses are treatable, witnessing that, following their treatment, they were able to do their usual activities. Florence Kanyana, a psychiatric nurse, also performed a poem she composed to raise awareness on mental health.

The World Mental Health Day is annually observed on October 10 with overall objective of raising awareness of mental health issues across the globe. The day was preceded by different activities carried out by Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital CARAES Ndera, to raise awareness on mental health; namely IEC (Information, Education & Communication) programme for outpatients and hospitalized patients, and participation in health talk shows on different radio and TV stations.