KABUL (SW) – With the mounting restrictions on women’s employment, many single mothers have lost their income sources and turned to domestic labour for survival.
Nasrin, who previously worked at the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs during the Republic, now finds herself cleaning houses to provide for her children. “I have no choice but to work in people’s homes; I bear the responsibility for my children. There’s no other option left for me,” she explained.
As a mother of four living in a rented house in Kabul, Nasrin struggles to meet her family’s needs with the income from her domestic work. She adds that her difficult circumstances have led to mental health issues, negatively affecting her children’s well-being.
“I have four orphans; my two daughters have had to drop out of school—one was in the 9th grade, the other in the 10th. My youngest son is five, and my eldest is nine.”
Clinical psychologist Sayed Esmat Hashemi reports that in the past three years, most of his patients have been women and girls suffering from mental health issues.
“The primary problem they face is psychological pressure. Women and girls are experiencing various mental health disorders, with depression, despair, and anxiety being the most prominent,” he said.
He emphasized that women play a crucial role in shaping the next generation, so the increase in psychological stress among them can adversely affect their children’s behavior.
Years of conflict, insecurity, and economic challenges have had devastating psychological impacts not just on women, but on all members of society.
Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) expressed concern over rising mental health issues in Afghanistan, noting that 50% of the population faces psychological distress, particularly as women have limited access to treatment facilities.
