Two Million Afghans Visited Mental Health Centers in 2025, Ministry Reports

Afghanistan's Ministry of Public Health reported that two million people, including those suffering from anxiety and severe mental illnesses, visited treatment centers in 2025.

Sharafat Zaman Amarkhil, spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Health, stated that assessments from previous years indicate 50 percent of the country's citizens struggle with anxiety. Amarkhil told ToloNews that since the re-establishment of the Islamic Emirate, the number of mental health counselors has increased to 430, with efforts underway to provide care and services to mental health patients.

The ministry's statistics show one specialized mental health clinic in the capital and treatment sections in various zones. More than 200 specialists have graduated from mental health programs, and 1,100 counselors are active nationwide, nearly 300 of whom are women.

Personal accounts highlight the issue's prevalence. Mirajan, a street vendor who worked in Iran for three years, said the experience brought anxiety and mental health problems rather than financial gain. "I got worried in exile, went to Iran, no proper work, got worried and suffered mental illness," he told ToloNews.

Twelve-year-old child laborer Mohammad Ali described pressures to earn 170 or 180 afghanis daily to buy bread for his family, leading to constant anxiety. "I think only about bringing bread home so the family is happy, eat together; I can't be calm at home once. If not, they always blame me for not working properly, not bringing money or bread," he said.

Psychologist Zakaria Barkazi emphasized that mental illnesses extend beyond severe cases known as "madness." He called for mental health centers in every district and noted weak public awareness, where problems are often dismissed as insanity alone.