James Donaldson on Mental Health - Teen girl dies by suicide after years of school ban, AP reports

A 16-year-old Afghan girl died by suicide after years of being barred from attending school under Taliban restrictions on girls’ education, The Associated Press reported, citing her family.

The girl, identified as Fariba, had dreamed of returning to school after the Taliban banned girls from secondary education in 2022.

According to her mother, Fariba left home each day hoping schools would reopen, only to return disappointed when they remained closed.

Her mother told the AP that after losing access to education, Fariba became increasingly withdrawn, spending most of her time alone in her room.

She said her daughter’s mental and physical health deteriorated in the months before her death.

Before she died, Fariba left a note saying she could no longer endure her circumstances and described the hardship of being a girl under the current restrictions, according to the report.

The case has renewed concerns among rights advocates about the psychological impact of the Taliban’s education policies on Afghan girls.

Human rights advocates say the continued closure of secondary schools and universities has deprived millions of girls of education while contributing to worsening mental health, early and forced marriages, domestic violence and a growing sense of hopelessness among many young women.

Several Afghan girls interviewed by Amu said they continue to struggle with the uncertainty surrounding their futures after years outside the classroom.

Nearly five years after the Taliban returned to power, girls remain barred from attending secondary schools, while women have been excluded from universities for almost four years.