Integrating mental health into maternity care, one step at a time
Over the past week, We for Health, in collaboration with the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), led a targeted training at Nyarugenge and Muhima District Hospitals to strengthen the integration of mental health within Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health (MNCAH) services in Rwanda.
In Rwanda, mental health disorders affect nearly 1 in 5 people, highlighting the urgent need to move beyond standalone care and embed mental health into essential health services—especially for mothers and newborns.
Following a 2025 baseline assessment that identified critical gaps in mental health integration within MNCAH services, this initiative brought together 20 registered nurses and midwives (10 from each hospital), working across maternity, antenatal, postpartum, neonatology, and gender-based violence (GBV) services.
Through an interactive training approach combining presentations, case studies, group discussions, and role-playing exercises, participants strengthened their capacity to integrate mental health into their daily practice—improving early identification and management of common mental disorders, increasing referrals to specialized care, and enhancing collaboration across departments.
By equipping frontline providers with practical skills and knowledge, this initiative contributes to a stronger, more connected health system—one that recognizes that maternal care must include mental health at every stage.
Because caring for mothers means caring for their full well-being.