Rwanda Resilience and grounding organization (RRGO), University of Rwanda, College of medicine and Health sciences and University of Michigan ,USA, are partnering in conducting a study on green space and mental health in Kigali city.The implementation of this research project will bring back mental health restoration on youth , adults and children who visits green space in Kigali city.

Green Space and Mental Health in Rwanda: Cross-sectional study.

Samuel Habimana^1,Paul Draus², , Salman Qureshi³, Juliette Roddy⁴, Emmanuel Biracyaza¹, Eugene Rutembesa⁵

 ¹ Rwanda Resilience and Grounding organization ; University of Rwanda, School of Public Health, Department of Community Health, Kigali-Rwanda

²Department of Behavioral Sciences, The University of Michigan-Dearborn, 4901 Evergreen Rd, Dearborn, MI, USA 48128

³Department of Geography, Humboldt University Berlin, Unter den Linden 6, 10099 Berlin, Germany

⁴Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Northern Arizona University

⁵Department of Clinical Psychology, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali-Rwanda

Abstract

Mental and behavioral disorders are approximately estimated to be 7.4% of the worldwide burden of disease. One in four individuals have suffered mental disorders and more than 80% of them are residing in low-middle income countries. Green space refers to be the place where a person gains the restoration, psychological healing, social reconstruction, relaxation and resilience that contribute to physiological and social development. This study aims at understanding the relationship between green space and mental health in Rwandan context.

The mixed method study will be conducted in Kigali City, the capital city of Rwanda. Kigali City residents will be recruited to participate in the study. Stata will be used to analyze the quantitative data and the factorial analysis will be computed. For qualitative data, spatial analysis and grounded theory analysis will be performed.Pilot study findings will inform impact of green space in mental health restoration in Kigali city

Keywords: Green space; Resilience; Cultural trauma; Green infrastructure; urban nature; Perception