Taliban Identify Thousands With Mental Health Conditions Across Afghanistan

Taliban Identify Thousands With Mental Health Conditions Across Afghanistan
……..

Afghanistan’s Taliban-run Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice says it has identified nearly 6,000 people with mental health conditions nationwide over the past three months, Kabul Now reported. In a statement, the ministry said its teams referred 5,871 individuals to the Afghan Red Crescent Society for medical assistance.

The announcement follows an order from Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada directing authorities to collect people with mental disorders. Officials say the measure is intended to protect vulnerable individuals, reduce potential security risks, and connect those affected with healthcare services.

However, details remain limited regarding the conditions under which people identified by the authorities are being held or the nature and quality of treatment they are receiving. No independent oversight has been disclosed. The move comes after earlier Taliban campaigns aimed at removing beggars from major Afghan cities, efforts that have had limited impact as poverty and unemployment continue to rise.

Mental health conditions are widespread in Afghanistan after decades of conflict and instability, while access to psychological care remains extremely limited. Many people with severe disorders continue to live in precarious conditions with little support.