KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – A 16-year-old girl in northern Faryab province has tragically ended her life by ingesting rat poison, sources report.
The girl, identified as Shabana, hailed from Belchiragh district. According to the source, she took the poison on Wednesday, January 8, and passed away after being transferred to a hospital.
While the exact reasons for her actions remain unclear, the source indicated that Shabana was unmarried and faced “family problems.” However, further details about these issues have not been disclosed.
Local Taliban officials in Faryab have yet to comment on the incident.
Afghanistan has seen a sharp rise in suicides, particularly among women and girls since the Taliban regained power.
The country has become one of the most mentally distressed in the world, with alarming rates of psychological issues and suicidal thoughts among its population.
A study by the US-based Gallup organization indicated that 98% of Afghans suffer from psychological distress, a crisis particularly severe among women and girls. The Taliban’s policies denying women basic rights—including education, employment, and access to public spaces—have further exacerbated the mental health crisis.
Investigations by Etilaatroz found that 213 suicides were reported across Afghanistan in 2023 alone, with nearly 80% of the victims under the age of 20.
Experts believe the true number of suicides may be much higher due to underreporting caused by Taliban-imposed media restrictions and societal stigma surrounding mental health.
