The women's mental health wing in Kabul's Qala centre is overwhelmed with patients, many of whom have no escape due to cultural and financial constraints. As Taliban regulations limit women's independence, stories of abandoned and neglected women like Mariam and Habiba highlight the urgent need for mental health support in a country grappling with psychological trauma.
"Trapped in Silence: The Struggles of Women in Afghanistan's Mental Health Facilities"
"Trapped in Silence: The Struggles of Women in Afghanistan's Mental Health Facilities"
Women in Afghanistan's mental health system face dire circumstances, as facilities like Qala struggle to provide care amidst societal and governmental obstacles.
High on a hill in Kabul, behind a fortified gate, lies the Qala mental health centre, one of the few facilities in Afghanistan dedicated to aiding women suffering from mental illnesses. The centre, run by the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS), is home to 104 women, many trapped by their past and unable to leave due to societal constraints. Among them is Mariam*, who has spent nine years in the facility after enduring familial abuse and eventual homelessness. "I don't expect to return to my father and mother," she says, highlighting her desperate situation as she wishes to marry within Kabul, but remains confined due to a lack of options.
Habiba, another resident, mirrors Mariam's plight, having been brought to the centre by her husband after he took another wife. With her three sons living with relatives and no means to survive independently, she too yearns to reunite with her children while feeling abandoned. Staff members at the centre reveal that many patients have been left entirely without familial support, some residing there for decades.
Evidence points to a mental health crisis intensifying under the current Taliban regime, where strict laws prohibit women's autonomy and contribute to lasting trauma. A United Nations report indicates a stark deterioration in women's mental health, with 68% of surveyed women reporting severe mental distress. Despite claims from Taliban officials about their commitment to women's rights, reality depicts a different story for many women struggling to seek help or access basic services.
Dr. Abdul Wali Utmanzai, a senior psychiatrist, notes that the demand for mental health services has surged, particularly among women facing economic hardships and familial pressures. With limited facilities and extreme social restrictions, women like Mariam and Habiba remain detained in their circumstances, compounding the challenges faced by those who desperately need assistance.
Cases like Zainab—a young girl compelled to live in isolation until recently—further dramatize the critical need for mental health services. Following traumatic experiences tied to violence, her parents found it increasingly hard to seek help, facing barriers not just from available facilities, but also from societal shame.
As the crisis deepens, questions remain about the futures of these women. While Mariam and Habiba embody resilience, they stand as stark witnesses to the tragically unyielding grip of Afghanistan's socio-political realities—a silent scream for help echoing through the halls of Qala.
