The officials within the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) estimated that one in two Afghans are struggling with mental stress.

According to the MoPH, at least 20 percent of the country’s population needs mental services.

“Of each two people, one of them in Afghanistan is struggling with mental stress due to several reasons. The tally is expected to increase," said Mohammad Hassan Ghiasi, Deputy Minister of the MoPH.

“The number of patients suffering from mental illness has increased by 20 percent," said Wahidullah Afghan, head of the department of mental health of the MoPH. 
October 10th marks World Mental Health Day. 
Head of Afghanistan Forensic Medicine, Abdulahad Mujahid, said war and economic challenges are the main reasons for the intensification of mental illness in the country.

“One of the reasons for this is that a variety of cultural issues happened here. Our people had their own culture, notions and values but the foreign culture has been imposed on the country,” he said.

Meanwhile, the officials at the mental health hospital in Kabul said that nearly 70 patients are under treatment in the hospital.

"The patients who are brought to the mental hospital, they are the ones who are suffering from deep mental disorder and thus they are being hospitalized,” said Sayed Najibullah Javid, a doctor.

"I am feeling good now compared to before. The doctors treat us well and so the situation is good,” said Arif, who is suffering from a mental disorder.

Some of the patients did not want to be interviewed by TOLOnews, but others expressed happiness for their improvement.