US envoy says Afghan women and girls face devastating mental health crisis

U.S. Special Envoy for Afghanistan’s Women, Girls, and Human Rights, Rina Amiri, said on Friday that Afghans, especially women and girls, are facing a devastating mental health crisis due to the Taliban’s extremist policies.

“As we commemorate World Mental Health Day, I want to draw attention to the devastating mental health crisis faced by Afghans, especially women & girls, due to the Taliban’s alarming & extreme policies,” Amiri said.

“We must all be resolute in supporting them in the struggle for their rights,” she added.

Over the past three years, the Taliban has imposed widespread restrictions on the private and public lives of Afghan citizens, especially women.

Previously, the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reported that the Taliban’s enforcement of the “Amr bil Ma’roof” law has significantly increased mental health pressures on Afghan women.

The UN agency further stated that the restrictions under this law have left many Afghan women feeling hopeless, depressed, and angry.

The continued impact of the Taliban’s harsh policies is worsening the mental health situation in Afghanistan, particularly among women who bear the brunt of these oppressive restrictions.

Global support and action are critical to addressing the mental health crisis in Afghanistan, with a focus on protecting the rights and well-being of women and girls in Afghanistan.