With only a handful of facilities dedicated to women's mental health in Afghanistan, the Qala center serves as a refuge for many. However, systemic oppression prevents their return to the outside world, leaving them trapped in a cycle of neglect and despair.**
Inside the Afghan Mental Health Crisis: Women's Stories of Despair and Resilience**
Inside the Afghan Mental Health Crisis: Women's Stories of Despair and Resilience**
In the shadows of Kabul, the Qala women’s mental health center struggles to provide care and hope for women trapped by social restrictions and family abandonment.**
High on a hill overlooking Kabul, behind steel gates and barbed wire, lies the Qala mental health center, which has become a sanctuary for many women suffering from mental illnesses. Run by the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS), it is among the few resources available for women in need, yet struggles to cope with the overwhelming number of patients. Currently, 104 women reside in the facility, often for years, without any visitors or support from their families.
Take Mariam*, in her mid-20s, who has been at the center for nearly a decade after escaping severe domestic violence. She recounts a past filled with abuse at the hands of her family, leading to homelessness before her eventual rescue. Despite her cheery disposition, she faces the harsh reality of being unable to leave as she has nowhere to go. “I want to marry someone here in Kabul,” she declares, having lost hope for reconciliation with her family.
Habiba, 28, shares a similar plight; rejected by her husband after he remarried, she is also prepared to rejoin the world but is barred from doing so. The combination of strict Taliban regulations and deeply ingrained cultural beliefs renders it virtually impossible for these women to live independently. Many are trapped in a cycle of oppression, unable to secure jobs or travel without a male guardian.
The mental health crisis in Afghanistan has intensified, especially for women, exacerbated by stigma, poverty, and a recent UN report that reveals alarming rates of poor mental health among Afghan women—68% describe their mental state as “bad” or “very bad.” Despite the Taliban government’s assurances of support, the practicalities of accessing help remain daunting, as many women cannot travel alone to seek care.
Within the crowded confines of Qala, some have been residents for upwards of 40 years, abandoned without hope of reunion with their families. Staff work tirelessly under the watchful eyes of Taliban officials, yet the surge in patient numbers indicates that the country’s mental health crisis is only worsening.
Zainab, a 16-year-old girl recently brought to Qala, embodies the catastrophic impact of the Taliban’s oppressive policies on young women. Before her admission, she had been shackled at home—her situation a desperate measure by her family to prevent her from leaving. Her father shares a harrowing account of her suffering after a school bombing, which left deep emotional scars.
The question remains for Mariam, Habiba, and Zainab: will their stories continue to echo within the walls of Qala, or will they find a way to break free from this cycle of despair? As the women’s mental health crisis deepens in Afghanistan, resolving these challenges remains a daunting task.
