Mental illness cases on the rise in Afghanistan’s Herat: Doctors
Qadem Mohammadi, head of the mental health ward at the provincial hospital in Herat, Afghanistan has seen a rise in cases of mental illness in recent months, with 80% of the patients among the almost 100 frequent hospital visitors being women, according to TOLOnews,
Statistics show that over the previous month, at least 400 patients were admitted to the provincial hospital in Herat.
According to TOLOnews, the main causes of mental illness include a lack of employment, problems with families, and the closing of women’s colleges and institutions. Patients also asserted that economic problems and domestic violence are significant factors in the increase of mental illness in society.
Patient Mah Jan remarked, “I suffer the symptoms one after another and I have no idea what would happen next.” Doctors in the province issued a warning that if the scenario persists, the number of persons suffering from mental illness will rise.
“Women make up half of society and if they return to their education and work, it will be good for them,” TOLOnews quoted Mohammad Shafiq Omar, a doctor as saying. The economic and humanitarian situation in Afghanistan remains grave. On December 24, the de facto authorities issued a decree banning women from working in NGOs,
TOLOnews reported. This came after they had already suspended university education for women and secondary schooling for girls until what they termed further notice.
According to reports, the Taliban’s strict regulations in Afghanistan have sparked considerable outrage from across the globe in response to the country’s restriction on women attending higher education institutions. Women in the nation are suffering the most under the Taliban’s strict Islamic rule since the group has placed several harsh laws on them, including bans on long distance travel, employment, and education.
