The number of mental health patients at Ndera Hospital increased by 17.7% in 2024–2025

The Ndera Neuropsychiatric Teaching Hospital, located in Ndera Sector, Gasabo District in Kigali City, has reported that in the 2024–2025 fiscal year, it received 119,859 patients. This represents a 17.7% increase compared to the previous year.

According to the hospital’s report, 4,250 patients were hospitalized for various mental health conditions.

Among the most common illnesses treated during the year, Epilepsy topped the list, with 36,097 patients receiving treatment, accounting for 29.08% of all cases.

In second place was Schizophrenia, a mental disorder that often affects young people during adolescence or early adulthood. The hospital treated 24,991 patients with this condition, representing 20.14% of total cases.

This disorder typically causes a person to feel detached from reality, experiencing thoughts or perceptions that differ from the real world. Mental health expert Jeanne d’Arc Dusabeyezu previously explained that “this illness often affects people who are beginning to enjoy life,whether in school or at work,” noting that it is characterized by unusual and distorted thinking patterns.

Acute and Transient Psychotic Disorders ranked third, with 10,349 patients (8.34%), followed by Bipolar Disorder in fourth place, which affected 7,235 people (5.83%).

Depression, commonly known as severe sadness, ranked fifth with 4,076 patients (3.28%), while Substance Use Disorders, linked to drug and alcohol abuse, were treated in 3,229 cases (2.7%).

Overall, the hospital reported that out of all patients received, 66,335 (55.33%) were treated for psychiatric disorders, while 53,524 (44.67%) had neurological conditions.

The report also highlights that the number of people seeking treatment at Ndera continues to grow each year a sign that Rwandan society is becoming more aware of the importance of mental health care and the value of seeking professional help rather than suffering in silence.