Afghanistan: Khushi, 19, creates a self-portrait of a caged figure wearing a blue burqa at home in northern Afghanistan.
The former university student once took political science and law courses at the main university in northern Balkh province. She needed psychiatric treatment and was advised to enrol in art therapy sessions after the Taliban closed tertiary institutions to women in December.
"I became depressed when I realised I wasn't in good mental health... According to Khushi, who is only being identified by her first name due to security concerns, "I was not happy at all, I was always depressed, and I felt like a bird being stuck in a cage, one who has lost all her happiness."
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I was so upset when the Taliban forbade girls from attending universities and declared that they could no longer pursue higher education. As a result, my mental health began to deteriorate, and I eventually made the decision to see a psychiatrist in order to get better.
In December 2022, the Taliban banned women from attending universities, setting off a rare public uprising. The majority of Afghan female humanitarian workers were ordered not to work after the Taliban authorities ordered the closure of most girls' high schools.
The Taliban government, which took control after foreign forces left Afghanistan two years ago, has come under harsh international criticism over the orders barring women from participating in public life. Western governments have stated that this is a major barrier to any formal recognition of the Taliban government.
In accordance with their interpretation of Islamic law and Afghan culture, the Taliban claim to respect women's rights.
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But according to Afghan women and mental health experts, a great deal of women, particularly in urban areas, who benefited from opportunities for work and education during the 20-year presence of foreign troops and a Western-backed government are now dealing with a profound sense of despair.
"Since the Islamic Emirate (Taliban administration) took over the nation, they have imposed so many restrictions on women, banning them from universities, theme parks, beauty parlours, and other establishments; they have left nothing for women," said the speaker.
The psychiatrist treating Khushi, who cannot be identified for security reasons. It has come to be the only place where girls can unwind, catch up with old friends, make new ones, and—aside from that—learn art. "Art studios are the only way we have left to help our patients," the statement reads.
Twice a month, Khushi sees her psychiatrist. He used to see four to five patients a day, but now says he sees 10 to 15 patients a day, the majority of whom are female. He claimed that the Taliban's ban on female students attending universities made the increase even more apparent.
After decades of war and instability, health organisations estimate that half of Afghanistan's 40 million population has experienced psychological distress. There are few accurate statistics on mental health trends, but doctors and aid workers have reported anecdotally that more women are experiencing mental health issues as a result of the orders restricting women's employment and education.
Khushi is one of several young women who congregate in a small, vibrant art studio in Mazar-i-Sharif, the capital of Balkh, for a class on pencil drawing. The studio's walls are covered in paintings. Many of them were sent here on the advice of a mental health professional in order to lessen their isolation and pick up a new skill in addition to talk therapy and medication.
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"The doctor advised me to visit a location where I can calm my mind when I felt depressed. I went with the art gallery. A former university student who attended the class said, "I not only made good friends here, but I also get art therapy.
Khushi claimed that she found some relief from home and some glimmer of hope in the art therapy.
Overall, drawing gives me a sense of empowerment and confidence because I feel like I accomplished something, she said. "My life has disappointed me, but I'm not giving up; I'll fight. I'm hoping that things will improve in the future