KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Local Taliban authorities in northern Balkh province report that at least 30 people have committed suicide in the province since this time last year.
The Taliban security command in Balkh province disclosed the number in a report but did not provide further details about the cause or identities of the individuals who died by suicide.
Afghanistan is one of the most depressed countries in the world, with the highest rate of mental health problems and suicidal thoughts among its people. Last year, a study conducted by the US-based organization Gallup found that 98% of Afghanistan’s population suffers from psychological distress.
“Surveys conducted in July and August — coinciding with the one-year anniversary of the Taliban’s takeover — showed almost all Afghans (98%) rated their life so poorly that they were considered suffering. This percentage topped the previous high of 94% in 2021, measured as the Taliban seized full control,” the report said.
In a report last year, Etilaatroz newspaper revealed that at least 213 individuals across 28 provinces of Afghanistan took their own lives for various reasons within a year. According to the report, nearly 80% of those who committed suicide were under the age of 20.
It’s important to note that the number only includes reported cases to the media; many suicide cases in Afghanistan are not registered or investigated due to the religious and cultural stigma attached. As a result, many cases and the circumstances that led to suicide are often concealed or ignored.
The reasons for suicide are complex and involve multiple factors, including poverty, unemployment, mental health problems, domestic violence, addiction, and many other social issues.
The situation has significantly deteriorated since the Taliban’s takeover of the country, as the fundamentalist regime has imposed severe restrictions on human rights and freedoms, particularly for women and girls.
Women and girls are currently not allowed to work, study, or engage in public life due to Taliban restrictions. This exacerbates their suffering and leads to a rise in depression among Afghan women.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), globally, suicides are nearly twice as common among males as among females. However, in Afghanistan, approximately 80% of all suicide attempts are made by women.
