The doctors at the Kabul Psychiatric Hospital said that more than 100 patients are referred to the hospital on a daily basis.  

The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) said that around 200,000 patients affected by mental disorders have been brought to mental health centers across Afghanistan within the last month.

“The available numbers shows that nearly 200,000 patients have referred to the clinics and OPD centers within the last month all over Afghanistan,” said Sharafat Zamankhail, a spokesman for the MoPH.  

A TOLOnews reporter paid a visit to a mental health center in Kabul.  

Anisa, 22, is struggling with mental problems. According to her family, Anisa has stopped talking for more than two months.  

“It has been three months since she was engaged. When the distribution of passports was stopped, she started crying and crying and then this problem happened,” Anisa’s mother said.    

Abdul Wahid, 24, a student of dentistry, is struggling with mental problems. He has been hospitalized for more than one week.  

“I was crying from morning to evening. My heart would be down. My feet felt numb, my head was heavy and I was in a bad condition,’ he said.  

Patients complained of a lack of facilities at the hospital.  

“The patient faces great troubles and so do his/her relatives. There is no water and food,” said Sayed Mujtaba, father of one of the patients.  

“The economic condition of the people is weak, they cannot stay for a long time at the hospital for treatment their patients,” said Khan Aqa, brother of one of the patients.  

Doctors believe that severe economic conditions, joblessness and the youth's lack of access to education, are the main reasons for the increase of mental problems.

“Between 100 to 150 patients are being referred. Sometimes the number of women is higher and sometimes the number of men,” said Mohammad Shafay Azim, a doctor.