At her home in northern Afghanistan, a 19-year old woman draws her own image. In the drawing, she is covered by a blue burqa and is inside a cage.
The woman, named Khushi, is a former university student. She once attended classes in law and political science at northern Balkh province's main university.
However, the Taliban closed it and other learning institutions to women in December of 2022. Since then, Khushi has developed deep sadness, or depression. She now needs mental health treatment. Part of her treatment includes art therapy classes.
She told Reuters reporters, "When I realized that I am not mentally well, I got sad ... I was not happy at all. I was always depressed, I felt like a bird being stuck in a cage, one who has lost all her happiness."
Khushi, who is identified by only one name for security reasons, added, "After the Taliban banned girls from universities and announced that girls can no longer continue our education, I felt so upset.”
Over time, she said, her mental health got worse. She finally decided to see a mental health doctor, called a psychiatrist.
Khushi's psychiatrist cannot be named for security reasons. But he told Reuters that art studios are the only places that remain for helping his patients.
He said, art studios “…have become the only place where girls can clear their minds, catch up with old friends, make new friends, and apart from that, they can learn art too."
Inside a small art studio in Balkh's capital Mazar-i-Sharif, paintings hang on the walls. Several young women, including Khushi, have gathered for a pencil drawing class. Many of them have been sent here at the recommendation of a mental health expert. The goals are to ease their loneliness and learn a new skill, as well as talk about their situations and take medication.
One of the former university students in the pencil drawing class said, "When I felt depressed, the doctor prescribed me to go to a place where I can calm my mind. I chose the art studio. Not only did I make good friends here, I also receive art therapy.”
Khushi said art therapy gave her a break from her home situation. She said it also gave her a bit of hope for the future.
"It gives me a sense of accomplishment for having made something…overall drawing empowers me with confidence," she said. "I'm disappointed in my life, but I am not giving up, I will fight. I hope things will get better in the future."
Khushi now sees her psychiatrist twice a month. The doctor used to see four to five patients a day. But he said he now sees 10 to 15 patients each day. Most of them are women. The increase became especially noticeable after the Taliban banned female students from attending universities, the doctor said.
Restrictions on women
A source told Reuters that "…since the Islamic Emirate (the Taliban administration) started ruling the country, they have imposed so many restrictions on women.” This source adds that women have been banned from universities, as well as amusement parks and beauty salons.
Health organizations estimate half of Afghanistan's 40 million people have experienced mental struggles after many years of war. There have been few dependable studies on mental health issues in the country. But doctors and aid workers say that more women are struggling with mental health after government orders to restrict their work and education.
Afghan women and mental health experts say that many women are now struggling with a deep sense of hopelessness and mental health problems. This is especially true of women in cities. Those women gained openings in education and work during the 20-year presence of foreign troops and a Western-backed government.
The Taliban closed universities to women in December of last year. The move led to rare public protests. The decision came after the closure of most girls' high schools. Later, the Taliban ordered most female humanitarian workers not to work.
The orders restricting women from public life have led to strong international criticism. Western governments have said it is a main problem standing in the way of officially recognizing the Taliban's government. The Taliban government took over the area as foreign forces left two years ago.
The Taliban say they respect women's rights in line with their view of Islamic law and Afghan culture.
I’m Anna Matteo.
