**Women in Afghanistan's Qala mental health center struggle against systemic discrimination and personal trauma, revealing a tragic cycle of abandonment and despair.**
**Trapped Voices: Afghan Women in Mental Health Crisis at Kabul's Qala Center**
**Trapped Voices: Afghan Women in Mental Health Crisis at Kabul's Qala Center**
**Amidst Talibani Restrictions, Women Face Isolation in Kabul's Mental Health Facility**
High atop a hill in Kabul, a hidden sanctuary known as Qala — the fortress — stands as a stark reminder of the mental health crisis facing women in Afghanistan. The facility, operated by the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS), is among the rare institutions focused exclusively on female patients, yet it's grappling with an overwhelming influx of individuals in need of care.
The center currently houses 104 women, each bearing their own harrowing tale of suffering. Among them is Mariam, a bright-eyed woman in her mid-20s, who has spent the past nine years battling the ghosts of her traumatic childhood. A victim of domestic violence, she was ostracized by her family and ultimately forced to live on the streets until a compassionate stranger brought her to the center.
"I don't expect to return home. I want to find a partner here in Kabul," Mariam expresses, but her hopes are dimmed by the grim reality of her situation — without a place to go, her freedom remains but a dream.
Another patient, Habiba, languishes in similar despair. The 28-year-old was brought to the center by her husband after he remarried, leaving her in a system that offers little chance for autonomy. As a mother, she yearns for her children who now live with relatives and whose visits have become sparse and sporadic. "I just want to be reunited with them," lamented Habiba, echoing the sentiments of many women trapped within the walls of Qala.
Years of conflict and systemic oppression have exacerbated mental health issues among Afghan women, a reality further complicated by the strict regulations enforced by the Taliban. Many women require a male guardian to access basic services, which results in an immense struggle for independence and dignity. Dr. Abdul Wali Utmanzai, a psychiatrist at ARCS, commented on the overwhelming number of male patients that arrive daily, most of whom cite familial economic stress as a significant contributor to their mental distress.
Despite reassurances from the Taliban government about women's rights, a UN study indicates that a staggering 68% of Afghan women report suffering from "bad" or "very bad" mental health, highlighting a critical gap in care and social support.
Inside the Qala center, staff members are increasingly overwhelmed, witnessing a growing number of patients with limited resources to assist them. The situation has pushed families, like that of 16-year-old Zainab, to the brink of desperation. Shackled by her father in an attempt to control her behavior, Zainab's mental health deteriorated significantly after a traumatic school bombing that left her grappling with unexpressed fears.
As Zainab joins the ranks of women who frequently endure abandonment within the facility, it remains uncertain if she will ever reclaim her freedom. Her father, torn between tradition and love, believes that confinement is the only way to preserve honor, casting a chilling light on the cycles of abuse that permeate Afghan society.
As the doors of Qala close behind them, these women's stories embody a broader narrative — one of resilience amid the relentless darkness of a society that continues to confine and control them.
