Along with Strive Foundation Rwanda and FASACO, on 23rd October 2024, Caritas Rwanda under the Igire Gimbuka program conducted an awareness campaign prioritizing mental health in the workplace at Bushenge Hospital and met with Nyamasheke leadership, Director General of hospitals, Heads of health facilities, private sector and security organs representatives.
The Word Mental Health Day is celebrated on the 10th of October every year. In October 2024 the focus was on mental health with the theme: “It is time to prioritize mental health in the workplace”.
During the awareness campaign at the Bushenge Hospital staff showed interest in the awareness campaign, engaging in presentations and asking numerous questions about managing stress in their daily tasks, taking into account the nature of their work.
The Strive Foundation Rwanda, FASACO and Igire Gimbuka team also met with various participants including Nyamasheke local leaders, Director General of hospitals, Heads of health facilities, private sector and security organs representatives at the Saint Bernadette Pastoral Center in Nyamasheke. The purpose of the meeting was to emphasize the importance of prioritizing mental health in the workplace through engaging presentations, personal testimonies, and interactive question-and-answer sessions. The questions focused on the alarming signs of mental illness, how to prevent stress in workplaces, and ways to support individuals facing challenging situations.
In her closing speech, Mukankusi Athanasie, the vice-mayor of Nyamasheke district in charge of social affairs, urged participants to maintain a positive outlook and cultivate supportive friendships. She emphasized the importance of managing stress and finding mental relaxation through a strong support system. Mrs. Mukankusi also commended Caritas Rwanda for hosting this valuable meeting, which she views as a form of training. She urged all participants to share the knowledge gained when interacting with others. By doing so, they can contribute to the promotion of mental health awareness and support within their communities.
“We must make a habit of communicating with those we lead before passing judgment on them. It is important to understand why they may be struggling before jumping to conclusions. By doing so, employees will feel more comfortable coming to you with challenges or problems. However, if you resort to bullying, they will run away from you and their mental health will deteriorate”, said the vice-mayor.
In a testimony given by a teenager mum, a victim of rape, she revealed that she experienced depression throughout her pregnancy. However, Igire-Gimbuka stepped in to offer her mental health support, helping her regain her confidence. In addition, the program helped her access medical treatment when she had an accident, supported her in accomplishing professional sewing training, and provided her with a sewing machine. “I decided that no man should tempt me with money because, today, I work hard to earn it”, she said.
This awareness campaign on prioritizing mental health in the workplace reached almost 180 people from the Nyamasheke district.