Banning Adolescent Girls from School in Afghanistan: Its Effects on Their Mental Health

Abstract

In August of 2021, the Taliban took over Afghanistan and implemented a policy prohibiting girls from attending lower and upper secondary schools. This action caused and continues to cause negative psychological and physical reactions in these adolescent girls. Employing a mixed methods approach that incorporates four distinct data collection strategies including survey, GHQ-12, interview, and FGD—this study investigates the mental health of adolescent girls in Afghanistan affected by the restrictions on attending schools. The bans impose a disruption in daily living that results in social isolation, difficulty with routines, and sleep difficulties. Post-ban, students experience a decline in mental health including feeling isolated, stressed, anxious, or depressed in addition to having concerns about the future. Economic hardship, limited access to mental health resources, false beliefs about mental health, cultural neglect, and a lack of emotional support are all contributing issues. There has not been progress in mental health even after two years. Students who have family support and access to home learning materials develop resilience. This study highlights the need for immediate intervention for these students and ongoing research to comprehend and enhance coping mechanisms.