KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Two young men, aged 27 and 18, have died by suicide in separate incidents in eastern Afghanistan within the past 24 hours, according to local sources.
The incidents occurred in the provinces of Paktia and Khost, adding to a growing number of reported suicides across the country amid worsening economic hardship, limited access to mental health care, and deepening social pressures.
Sources in Paktia said that a 27-year-old man took his own life by hanging in Samkani district of the province. According to the sources, the victim, identified as Abdul Hadi, lived in the Ragha area of Samkani district, although he was originally from the Moqbal area of Dand Patan district.
A relative of Abdul Hadi said that he died late on Tuesday (July 7). The motive behind his suicide remains unknown, and local authorities have not released further information about the incident.
In a separate case, sources in Khost said that an 18-year-old young man died by suicide after hanging himself in the Dargi area of Tani district late on Tuesday (July 7). The victim was identified as Ekramullah.
According to the source, Ekramullah was a student at a private school in Khost. The reason for his suicide has not yet been determined. His funeral is scheduled to take place on Wednesday (July 8) in his native village of Dargi.
The two incidents follow another reported suicide earlier this week in northern Afghanistan, where a 25-year-old man reportedly took his own life in Faryab province, underscoring growing concerns over the increasing number of such cases.
Mental health professionals and humanitarian organizations have repeatedly warned that Afghanistan is facing a worsening mental health crisis. Decades of conflict, widespread poverty, unemployment, forced displacement, and uncertainty about the future have placed millions of Afghans under severe psychological stress.
Access to mental health services remains extremely limited, particularly in rural areas, while social stigma surrounding mental illness often prevents people from seeking professional support.
Afghanistan’s mental health crisis has deepened in recent years. A Gallup survey conducted in 2023 found that 98% of Afghans experience psychological distress — among the highest rates globally. Women and girls face even greater mental strain as they are barred from education, employment, and public spaces such as parks and gyms.
Investigations by Etilaatroz and KabulNow found that at least 213 people, mostly under the age of 20, took their own lives in 2023. The true figure is believed to be higher, as many cases go unreported due to Taliban restrictions on media and the stigma surrounding mental health in Afghanistan.
