Trapped in Silence: The Plight of Women in Afghanistan's Mental Health Facilities

Thu Oct 16 2025 22:51:40 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A rising mental health crisis in Afghanistan leaves women in desperate conditions within the nation's scarce facilities, as they face systemic abandonment and societal barriers.

The Afghan Red Crescent Society's mental health center in Kabul, known as Qala, struggles with an overwhelming number of female patients, many of whom are victims of domestic violence or societal neglect. Limited resources and stringent Taliban regulations complicate their situations, as women remain trapped without viable options for independence or escape, leading to a deepening mental health crisis.

High on a hill in Kabul lies a mental health center for women, a seldom-visited facility run by the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS). Known locally as Qala, it serves as the largest of its kind in Afghanistan, but struggles to care for the 104 women currently confined within its walls, many of whom have endured years of abuse or neglect.

Among them is Mariam*, a woman purported to be in her mid-20s, who has spent the last nine years at the center. Victimized by domestic violence, she recalls being beaten by her brothers, who believed that young girls should not venture out without male supervision. Eventually expelled from her family home, she was discovered by a compassionate woman who brought her to the facility. Despite her resilient spirit and a desire to be discharged, Mariam is unable to leave as she has nowhere else to go. "I want to marry someone here in Kabul," she shares, "because if I return home, I'll just be abandoned again."

Another patient, Habiba, aged 28, echoes similar sentiments. Her husband abandoned her after marrying again, and in the absence of familial support, she longs to reunite with her children, who are now living with an uncle. Like Mariam, she waits for a future that remains uncertain. Many women at the center have if been wholly forsaken by their families, leading to what some psychotherapists describe as a generational cycle of neglect and desperation.

Years of conflict and systemic oppression faced by Afghan women have culminated in a mental health crisis often exacerbated by societal stigma. In response to a recent UN report stating a decline in women's rights, Taliban spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat claimed that the government does not condone violence against women and is committed to their rights, despite evidence suggesting otherwise. Current statistics indicate that 68% of women in Afghanistan experience poor mental health, reflecting the urgency of the situation.

The center struggles to accommodate the rising patient numbers, with many others awaiting admission. Dr. Abdul Wali Utmanzai, a senior psychiatrist, reports that most patients are young women facing severe economic pressures and familial issues, as they often lack the support of male guardians due to the Taliban's rigid regulations.

A glaring example of this issue is the case of Zainab, a 16-year-old girl who has spent years confined to her home due to severe mental health struggles exacerbated by traumatic experiences. Her family has tried, unsuccessfully, for a year to admit her to the center. With queues for treatment growing and resources dwindling, women like Mariam, Habiba, and Zainab remain trapped, illustrating a harrowing reflection of Afghan society where hope is overshadowed by despair.

As conditions persist, the cycle of abandonment and mental illness shows no sign of abating, leaving these women to question whether they will ever be freed from the walls of Qala.