The long term war in Afghanistan has left grave impacts on all fields of life in Afghanistan including social, political and economic sectors. The unremitting bloodshed and killings have extensively influenced the psychology of Afghan people. According to Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) over sixty percent of the Afghan population suffers from mental health problems.
Major portion of that figure is formed by women. Afghan women have been suffering throughout the history of Afghanistan. Although more than ten years of the collapse of Taliban's government have passed, in many parts of Afghanistan the women have to follow Taliban's rules and regulations.
The reasons for this high figure are described as continuation of war, poverty, poor economy and lack of employment opportunities. Instability persists in the country as the influences of insurgents are extending. NATO troops and Afghan National Security Force (ANSF) have been operating against militants.
These operations cost lives of soldiers and civilians and billions of dollars. In spite of that momentum of terrorism does not seem to be reversing. The lingering war is affecting the mental health of Afghans. Another prominent reason for psychological problems of Afghans is deemed the increasing rate of poverty.
According to a report of U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights released in March, 2010, nine million Afghans or 36 percent of the population "are believed to live in absolute poverty and a further 37 percent live only slightly above the poverty line" despite about $35 billion of outside aid sent to the country between 2002 and 2009.
Unemployment in the country has caused many people grow mental problems or go astray. Based on the estimation, around 60 percent of the Afghan population is formed by youths most of whom are unemployed. Unemployment is causing the Afghans to illegally travel to other countries at the risk of their lives, join insurgency or commit social crimes.
Although thousands of Afghan youths are engaged in security sector and can be seen in the uniforms of police and army, major portion of Afghan labor force is being wasted because of very little development in industrial sector and non availability of job opportunities in other sectors of Afghanistan.
Living a life in Afghanistan is extremely difficult. The people living in country where future is completely ambiguous and insecure would with no doubt grow mental problems and this must not be seen as surprising factor.