Today, October 10, is World Mental Health Day. This year, the World Health Organization has emphasized that the experiences of people living with mental health conditions should be heard and that they should have a role in decision-making and in developing support services.
For many Afghan families, this day is a reminder of suffering that is rarely discussed. Forty years of war and insecurity, poverty, unemployment and displacement have placed a burden on people that is not always reflected in statistics and reports. A mother who cannot sleep at night because she worries about feeding her children the next day, a young person who has completed their education but cannot find a job, and a family living far from home and longing for it—all live with a burden that is invisible from the outside.
Afghan women and girls carry this burden even more heavily. Restrictions on education, employment and movement, combined with economic difficulties, have left many of them feeling isolated and uncertain about their future.
Experts say mental health is as important as physical health. However, in many communities, including ours, people who speak about sadness and psychological distress still face judgment and stigma. This fear of being judged prevents many from seeking help and leaves them suffering in silence for years.
World Mental Health Day is an opportunity to change this approach: instead of blaming, listen; instead of remaining silent, talk; and make access to mental health and support services easier for those who need them. Sometimes, listening to someone is the first step toward feeling better.
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