KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Local sources in Zabul report that a young man has died by suicide in Qalat, the provincial capital.
The young man, identified as Esmatullah Danish, took his own life on Saturday night, February 8, according to the sources.
They say he ended his life due to economic hardship and unemployment.
Taliban officials in Zabul have not yet commented on the incident.
More than three years into Taliban rule, Afghanistan is grappling with a worsening mental health crisis, with some of the highest rates of psychological distress and suicidal thoughts globally. A 2023 Gallup study found that 98% of Afghans suffer from mental health issues.
Investigations by Etilaat Roz and KabulNow revealed that at least 213 men and women died by suicide in Afghanistan in 2023, with nearly 80% of cases involving individuals under the age of 20.
The actual numbers are likely higher, as many cases go unreported due to Taliban media restrictions and the stigma surrounding mental health.
