Afghan women battle soaring mental health problems — a global issue

• Thursday, May 16, 2024
• interpress service

According to these officials, nearly 80 percent of people seeking treatment for depression are women and girls. Every day, 100 patients flock to the medical center seeking help.

“100 people come for treatment every day, and more than two-thirds of them are women,” said one doctor from the Association of Clinical Psychologists in Herat. She said she did not want her name in the report for security reasons. problem.

In less than a month, nearly 400 people have received further treatment, and the number continues to grow every day. Most patients receive psychological counseling, but those with serious illnesses are referred to Herat’s regional psychiatric hospital.

Several factors contribute to the rapid increase in mental illness among women. The country’s economic woes are deepening, while the Taliban’s oppressive rule casts a shadow over its future prospects. Additionally, widespread domestic violence against women is increasing, compounded by restrictions on women’s education and employment.

“I often experience sudden panic attacks,” said Marjane, a patient at the hospital. “I feel like my heart is failing and I am constantly battling lethargy. Due to the ban on education, I have fallen into depression,” she lamented.

With tears in her eyes and pain in her voice, she spoke out about how long she and other women would remain confined within the four walls of their homes, living in fear of their futures.

Marjane continued, “I am my husband’s third wife, and I am constantly subjected to violence and beatings from my husband or my husband’s wife.”

In some regions, such as Herat, polygamy is common, leading to intrafamily conflict and women bearing the brunt of the consequences.

Marjan, a victim of such a marriage, revealed that she had made a failed suicide attempt and blamed the Taliban for her plight. Forced into marriage by her father under the Taliban regime, she was forced to abandon her role as a civil activist and former employee of a human rights organization under the previous regime.

“Now all that remains is a mere memory of a life that no longer exists,” she lamented bitterly.

Nafas Gul, a mother of five who also lives in Herat province, shares her story. Her mother explains that her daughter, 16-year-old Shirin Gul, is severely depressed and, judging by her regular cries, calls her home a prison. She Shirin is no longer attending school.

Most girls and women have experienced depression due to memories. Many of them remain at home, unable to work or pursue education.

With the return of the Taliban to Afghanistan in 2021, women have been stripped of their rights, especially the right to work and education. The majority of women in Herat oppose recognition of the Taliban government’s legitimacy, arguing that recognition should instead be given in exchange for women’s empowerment.

Doctors warn that without intervention, the number of people suffering from depression will continue to rise, especially in Herat province.

© Inter Press Service (2024) — All rights reservedSource: Interpress Service

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