'No-one comes for us': The women trapped in Afghanistan's mental health system

This article highlights the plight of women trapped in Afghanistan's mental health system. Due to the country's conservative culture and stigma surrounding mental health issues, many women face significant challenges in accessing proper treatment and support. The article profiles the stories of several women who have been involuntarily committed to mental health facilities, sometimes by family members, and subsequently struggle to be released. They often lack legal representation and face bureaucratic hurdles, with staff at these facilities reluctant to discharge them. The article emphasizes the lack of oversight and accountability within the system, leaving these women vulnerable to prolonged, and at times indefinite, institutionalization. The situation has become more dire since the Taliban's takeover, as the new government's policies have further restricted women's rights and access to healthcare. The article underscores the urgent need for reforms to protect the rights and dignity of women in Afghanistan's mental health system, which currently traps many in a cycle of neglect and isolation.