At home in northern Afghanistan, 19-year old Khushi draws a self-portrait - a figure enveloped by a blue burqa inside a cage.
The former university student once attended classes in law and political science at northern Balkh province's main university. But she sank into depression since the Taliban closed tertiary institutions to women in December, requiring psychiatric treatment where she was recommended art therapy classes.
The Taliban closed universities to women in December 2022, sparking rare public protests. The decision came in the wake of the closure of most girls' high schools and was followed by Taliban authorities ordering most Afghan female humanitarian workers not to work. But many women, particularly in urban areas, who gained opportunities in education and work during the 20-year presence of foreign troops and a Western-backed government are now struggling with a deep sense of despair and mental health challenges, Afghan women and mental health experts say.
Khushi sees her psychiatrist twice a month. He used to see four to five patients a day but says the number of his patients has now increased to 10 to 15 daily, most of them women. The increase became even more noticeable after the Taliban banned female students from attending universities, he said.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Closure of Philadelphia Art School after Years of ExpansionThe Hussian School of Art, a 77-year-old institution in Philadelphia, has abruptly closed down all of its campuses. The closure comes after several years of expansion under a for-profit company. The Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges cited concerns about student achievement as the reason for the closure. The Philadelphia campus had 71 undergraduate students, according to the U.S. Department of Education. However, the school claims the number was less than 60. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the school had over 100 students.
Read more »
Dish Network Successfully Builds State-of-the-Art 5G Cellular NetworkDish Network, based in Englewood, has successfully built a state-of-the-art 5G cellular network that covers over 240 million U.S. residents in just three years, at a significantly lower cost compared to other wireless carriers.
Read more »
1kx leads $5 million seed round for generative art NFT platform fxhashfxhash has raised $5 million in a seed funding round led by 1kx. The funds will be used to expand the team and prepare for a major platform upgrade in the next six months.
Read more »
Marine Describes Awkward Encounter with Biden After Losing Limbs in AfghanistanA Marine who survived a suicide bomb attack in Afghanistan shares his awkward encounter with President Biden, after losing an arm and a leg during the U.S. military's evacuation from the country.
Read more »
Baby Found in Rubble of US Raid in Afghanistan Raises QuestionsA baby found after a U.S. raid in Afghanistan was adopted by a Marine. Documents reveal details that have thrust this raid into a controversy over who exactly the military killed that night, and whether they ever tried to find out.
Read more »
Marine who survived Afghanistan explosion describes awkward encounter with Biden after losing arm and legA Marine who was severely injured during the U.S. military’s evacuation from Afghanistan has described an awkward encounter he had with President Biden after he survived a suicide bomb attack in Afghanistan.
Read more »