Mental Health Issues Plague Afghanistan Residents

Mental health issues in war torn Afghanistan on the rise.

Published

6 months ago

Categories

World, Health

Topics

Asia

Places

Afghanistan, Kabul

Tags

war in afghanistan

Transcript

In Afghanistan, people like Haji Mohammad are amongst the forgotten casualties of war. "Airplane attacks and raids during the holy war have damaged my mind" he says. Here in the country's only mental health facility, psychologists say more and more patients are suffering the affects of living in a war torn environment. Post traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, panic and obsession are just some of the ailments affecting patients. In the woman's ward, patients receive treatment but are still suffering. This woman says she still hears the sounds of explosions. Doctors say one group of patents is particularly vulnerable. (SOUNDBITE) (English) CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY ADVISOR, MOHAMMAD ZAMAN RAJABI, SAYING: "The generation who are born after 2001 when the international community entered Afghanistan, might be 10, 11 year olds now, and I've been seeing 11 year olds and 10 year olds nowadays who are presenting with so many mental health problems: nightmares, depression, children depression, anxiety, incontinence -- so many other mental health issues." The streets of Kabul are littered with crumbling buildings from decades of war. And as the country struggles to rebuild its infrastructure, an entire generation will grow up knowing only the struggles of war.