Years of conflicts and deepening economic hardship have exacted a heavy toll on the mental health of Afghans, leaving many grappling with depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress and other psychological conditions, the World Health Organization warned in a recent report.
“In Afghanistan, years of conflict and economic hardship have exacted a heavy toll on mental health,” the agency said. “To address this, WHO Afghanistan, with the support of the European Union, is bringing life-changing mental health and psychosocial support programmes to those most in need.”
Most hospitals across Afghanistan’s 34 provinces still lack specialized psychiatric services, according to the report. To begin closing this gap, the WHO has launched a pilot initiative to integrate acute mental health care into select health facilities, aiming to provide both inpatient and outpatient treatment.
With funding from the European Union, the WHO has established eight-bed mental health units in Bamiyan, Badakhshan, Farah and Nimroz, as well as a 20-bed facility at Aino Mina Hospital in Kandahar. These services are designed to provide essential care for individuals previously unable to access treatment, while also supporting reintegration into family and community life.
“These facilities are not just about treating symptoms,” the WHO noted. “They help people rebuild their lives, reconnect with loved ones, and regain a sense of purpose and dignity.”
Edwin Salvador, the WHO representative in Afghanistan, said the organization has managed to maintain five integrated mental health care programs through November 2025. However, the future of these services remains uncertain, and expanding care to 27 additional provincial hospitals remains a challenge.
“This is about saving lives,” Mr. Salvador said. “But without sustained support, this progress is at risk.”
Afghan doctors say that the psychological burden has only intensified in recent years. Many point to the Taliban’s return to power and the worsening economic crisis as major stressors compounding the trauma of conflict.
“People are not just traumatized by war,” said one physician in Kabul. “They’re exhausted by survival itself. Many have given up hope.”
