KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Local sources in Kunar province say a young man died by suicide in Manogai district, with residents attributing the incident to severe economic hardship.
According to the sources, the man, identified as Zahid, died around midday on Saturday (July 18).
The sources said Zahid had completed a bachelor’s degree but had been unable to find employment. They said prolonged unemployment and financial pressure had left him struggling in recent months.
According to local reports, his funeral and burial were held on Saturday afternoon.
Taliban local officials in Kunar have not commented on the incident.
Similarly, earlier this month, two young men in eastern Afghanistan died by suicide in separate incidents in Paktia and Khost provinces. Local sources reported that a 27-year-old man identified as Abdul Hadi died by suicide in Samkani district of Paktia, while an 18-year-old student named Ekramullah died by suicide in Tani district of Khost.
These incidents, along with the recent case in Faryab province where a 25-year-old man reportedly took his own life, highlight the spread of reported suicides across different provinces of Afghanistan and have intensified concerns over the impact of unemployment, economic hardship, social pressures, and limited access to mental health support on young people across the country.
Since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in August 2021, local sources have reported a rise in suicides among young people in different parts of the country. Poverty, unemployment, uncertainty about the future, and economic and psychological pressures are frequently cited by local sources as contributing factors.
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.
