Psychologists express their concern about the increase in mental problems among citizens and say that, if necessary, decisions are not taken to reduce and eliminate contributing problem factors, the number of people suffering from this disease will increase significantly and it will have unfortunate consequences. Mental illness refers to a wide range of mental disorders that affect the ability to think, feel, and behave, and a person suffering from it cannot perform their daily tasks well.
Thinking about suicide, inappropriate behavior, withdrawing from others, aggression, sadness, and longing, fearful thoughts, excessive fear or worry, a strong feeling of guilt, inability to deal with daily problems, anxiety, and violence are obvious symptoms of mental challenges.
The fall of the republican system and the re-establishment of the Taliban power have caused a profound change in the country. Many citizens have lost their jobs, economic stagnation has come and poverty has spread. This has caused an increase in mental illness among the country’s citizens.
According to statistics released by the World Health Organization and the Ministry of Public Health of Afghanistan a few years ago, more than half of the country’s population suffers from mental disorders. But according to doctors, this number has now increased due to the increase in epidemic poverty and the restriction of personal and social freedoms.
Dr. Ezatullah Nusrat, a specialist in mental disorders, says: “With the arrival of the Taliban, the number of mental illnesses has undoubtedly increased. Because of their gaining power, only war has decreased, explosions and suicides still happen, poverty has become widespread, freedom has been lost, and most government employees and even the private sector have become unemployed. All this has caused the people of Afghanistan severe psychological problems. Nusrat adds: “Recently, many people have got suicide in different provinces of the country due to all these problems. “Maybe these people have already suffered from mental problems and with facing with the current situation, their mental problems have intensified and as a result, they have committed suicide.”
Recently, reports have been published about the suicide of many citizens in different provinces of Afghanistan. According to reports, a 16-year-old teenage girl hanged herself in Qadis district of Badghis province on October 10 in this year and ended her life. The cause of this suicide was forced marriage with an old man. A day after that, a 19-year-old boy in this district hanged himself and died. At the same time, another young boy committed suicide in the Dara Noor district of Nangarhar province. This young boy, whose name was Imran, had written on his hand before his death: “Father, please forgive me.” He did not say anything about the reason for his suicide.
Also, another young girl ended her life with a bullet on October 24, in this year. She was living in the village of Jertilak Firozkoh, the capital of Ghor province. According to the father of this girl, she had quarreled with her family a few days ago and that was her suicide reason. It is said that this girl’s name was Rihan. Rihan was not the only young girl who became a victim of family violence. After Rihan’s suicide, on November 3rd, in this year, a young woman hanged herself and ended her life in the Qala Mohammad Qadam area, from Lal wa Sarjangal district of Ghor province. Although the cause and motive of this suicide have not been determined, sources from the prisoners of this young woman have cited family violence and nervous problems as a cause of her suicide. The name of this young woman is Hanifa.
In the latest incident, on Saturday, November 21 a six-year-old girl ended her life with a bullet. However, the Taliban say that this young girl, whose name was Muzhgan, was killed by using her father’s weapon while playing.
Meanwhile, reports from Kandahar province indicate that the number of mental illnesses is increasing in this province. It is said that in the past month, about 100 mental patients have visited the hospitals in this province for treatment. According to the source, after the arrival of the Taliban, the number of mental patients has increased in this province.
Dr. Nusrat says: “The main source of all suicides is mental problems. One has lost his job and struggles with poverty, the other has no security, and one suffers from family violence. All these factors have made people suffer from severe mental disorders.” He says that the arrival of the Taliban and the spread of poverty has a direct relationship with the increase in mental illnesses. As a result, there is an increase in the number of suicides. Dr. Nusrat adds: “The reason for most forced marriages is poverty.” The reason why a father cannot fulfill the wishes of his young son is poverty. Until the problem of poverty is not solved, these problems will exist.
Mental illness is increasing in the country and the Taliban have not provided any deterrent solutions. More than a year has passed since this group is being in power in Afghanistan, but still, no country has recognized their government. People’s destitution and poverty are spreading and the Taliban administration continues to be careless.
