"At Qala, a mental health center in Kabul, women like Mariam and Habiba share their heartbreaking stories of domestic abuse and abandonment. Struggling against oppressive societal rules, many remain trapped without hope for reintegration into a system that fails to support their mental health needs."
"Forgotten Voices: Women Bound by Afghanistan's Mental Health Crisis"
"Forgotten Voices: Women Bound by Afghanistan's Mental Health Crisis"
"An exclusive inside look into Afghanistan’s largest mental health facility reveals the harsh realities faced by women who are trapped by societal norms and lack of support."
In the heart of Kabul, Afghanistan's largest mental health facility for women, known as Qala, remains largely ignored by society outside its barbed walls. Managed by the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS), this center houses 104 women dealing with mental health issues exacerbated by violence, neglect, and abandonment. During a recent visit, we were granted exclusive access to hear the voices of these women, many of whom have been confined for years without hope of escape.
Among the patients is Mariam*, a vibrant young woman who has spent nearly a decade at Qala. Once a victim of domestic violence, she now finds herself unable to leave despite her readiness. With an abusive family that disowned her, she is left with no prospects of independence in a country where traditional customs require female dependence on a male guardian. "I want to marry someone here in Kabul," she insists, expressing a desire for a life outside of her past, yet knowing that her freedom hinges on finding a way to live independently.
Another resident, Habiba, shares a similar struggle. Abandoned by her husband after he remarried, she longs to reunite with her three sons but faces societal barriers that prevent her from leaving the center. "I want to see my children," she laments, echoing the sentiments of many who are trapped in a similar situation—their families unwilling or unable to support them.
For decades, conflict has ravaged the mental health of countless Afghan women, and their struggles are often compounded by stigma and a lack of understanding. According to Dr. Abdul Wali Utmanzai, a senior psychiatrist working at a nearby facility, up to 80% of his patients are young women grappling with dire circumstances. Economic pressures and the absence of male guardians further complicate their access to care.
Despite the Taliban's claims of safeguarding women's rights, reports reveal a distressing reality: a significant percentage of Afghan women report experiencing severe mental health issues as their freedoms dwindle. The stark reality is that for many women like Mariam and Habiba, their future is a haunting uncertainty.
Recently, another tragedy struck when a family attempted to admit their 16-year-old daughter, Zainab, into Qala, only to be told there were no beds available. Preceding this, Zainab had been kept at home, shackled due to her severe mental distress after experiencing trauma from nearby bombings. Her father's initial embarrassment over her state has now shifted to a desperate plea for help, but the system remains overwhelmed and ill-equipped to handle the growing crisis.
As we continued our visit, it became clear that for many women at Qala, the fight for survival extends beyond their individual mental health struggles. They are caught in a systemic cycle that leaves them feeling abandoned and invisible—a haunting testament to the urgent need for societal change and a comprehensive response to the mental health crisis in Afghanistan.
