KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – A young man has reportedly taken his life due to economic hardship in Nangarhar province, eastern Afghanistan, amid a recent surge in the suicide rate.
Local sources reported that the man, identified as Mohammad Khan, ended his life by gunshot in the Kama district on Saturday, November 16.
The sources explained that the young man was engaged to a girl three years ago but had been unable to afford his wedding since then. This situation led to recent mental health issues and depression, ultimately resulting in this tragedy.
The local Taliban authorities have not yet commented on the incident.
Since the Taliban’s return to power, suicide cases, especially among young men and women, have sharply increased in Afghanistan. This unprecedented rise is mainly attributed to widespread poverty, high unemployment, Taliban restrictions, and domestic violence.
Afghanistan is currently facing one of the world’s largest and most severe humanitarian crises, with nearly 24 million people, more than half of its population, in urgent need of international aid.
The situation has made the country one of the most depressed in the world, with the highest rates of mental health issues and suicidal thoughts, especially among young men and women.
A study conducted last year by the US-based organization Gallup found that 98% of Afghanistan’s population experiences psychological distress.
Investigative data from Etilaatroz and KabulNow revealed that in the past year alone, a staggering 213 men and women, nearly 80% of whom were under the age of 20, committed suicide across Afghanistan. The actual numbers may be even higher, as many incidents go unreported due to Taliban media restrictions and the stigma surrounding mental health in Afghan society.
