Afghanistan: Rise in Suicide of Women & Girls

From RAWA News:

The advisor of the president of Afghanistan in health matters estimates that each year 2300 Afghan women and girls, aged between 15 to 40 years who suffer from depression, commit suicide.

Mr. Kakkar said that on the basis of the above information the rate of suicide among women is 5 out of every 100,000. Mr. Kakkar said that the continuation of civil wars and violence in Afghanistan, immigration, early and forced marriages, rape, domestic violence and widespread poverty in families are viewed as the main reasons for mental illnesses and depression in Afghanistan.

The report Mr. Kakkar gave to the media also included the effects of drugs on Afghan women and depression among them.

In 2008 the Ministry of Public Health of Afghanistan had estimated that two-thirds of the Afghan population suffered from mental illnesses. But the officials of this ministry said that all the people suffering from mental illnesses included in this research don’t need treatment.