Mental Health in Afghanistan : Burden, Challenges and the Way Forward

Afghanistan has been in internal and external strife for more than thirty years. Prolonged conflict and civil war have left millions dead, thousands with disabilities and massive internal and external population displacement. The situation has contributed negatively to every aspect of the country...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Sayed, Ghulam Dastagir
Format: Working Paper
Language:English
en_US
Published: World Bank, Washington, DC 2013
Subjects:
PHO
TB
Online Access:http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2011/08/15525574/mental-health-afghanistan-burden-challenges-way-forward
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/13589
id okr-10986-13589
recordtype oai_dc
repository_type Digital Repository
institution_category Foreign Institution
institution Digital Repositories
building World Bank Open Knowledge Repository
collection World Bank
language English
en_US
topic ACCESS TO HEALTH SERVICES
ACUTE EPISODES
ADOLESCENTS
AGED
ALCOHOL USE
ALCOHOL USE DISORDERS
ANTI-DEPRESSANT
ANTI-DEPRESSANTS
ANTIDEPRESSANT
ANTIDEPRESSANT DRUG
ANXIETY
ANXIETY DISORDERS
ANXIOLYTIC DRUGS
BASIC HEALTH
BASIC HEALTH SERVICES
BASIC PSYCHOLOGICAL THERAPIES
BEDS
BEHAVIORAL THERAPY
BIPOLAR DISORDER
BREASTFEEDING
BURDEN OF DISEASE
CHILD CARE
CITIES
CLINICAL OUTCOMES
CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGISTS
COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT
COGNITIVE THERAPY
COMMON MENTAL DISORDERS
COMMUNICABLE DISEASES
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
COMMUNITY HEALTH
COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS
COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CARE
COST EFFECTIVENESS
COUNSELING
COUNSELLING
COUNSELORS
CRIME
DEATHS
DEPRESSANTS
DEPRESSION
DEPRESSIVE
DEPRESSIVE DISORDERS
DETOXIFICATION
DIAGNOSES
DIAGNOSIS
DIARRHEA
DISABILITIES
DISABILITY
DISABILITY COMPONENT
DISABILITY-ADJUSTED LIFE
DISABLED PEOPLE
DISASTERS
DISEASE CONTROL
DISEASE DIAGNOSIS
DISEASE PATTERN
DOCTORS
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
DRUG ABUSE
DRUG USERS
EMOTIONAL SUPPORT
EMOTIONS
ENURESIS
EPILEPSY
EXTERNALITY
FAMILIES
FIRST AID
FORENSIC MEDICINE
FORENSIC PSYCHIATRY
HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS
HEALTH CENTERS
HEALTH EDUCATION
HEALTH EXPERTS
HEALTH INDICATORS
HEALTH INTERVENTIONS
HEALTH MANAGEMENT
HEALTH ORGANIZATION
HEALTH POLICY
HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
HEALTH PROJECTS
HEALTH PROMOTION
HEALTH PROVIDERS
HEALTH SECTOR
HEALTH SERVICE
HEALTH SERVICE DELIVERY
HEALTH SERVICES
HEALTH STATUS
HEALTH STRATEGY
HEALTH SYSTEM
HEALTH TRAINING
HIGH FERTILITY
HOSPITAL SERVICES
HOSPITALS
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
HUMAN RESOURCES
HYGIENE
ILLICIT DRUG USE
INCOME
INFANT MORTALITY
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
INTEGRATION
INTERVENTION
LAWS
MAJOR DEPRESSION
MALNUTRITION
MANAGEMENT OF DEPRESSION
MATERNAL MORTALITY
MEDICAL DOCTORS
MEDICINES
MENTAL
MENTAL DISORDER
MENTAL DISORDERS
MENTAL HEALTH
MENTAL HEALTH ACTIVITIES
MENTAL HEALTH BUDGET
MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION
MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES
MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVES
MENTAL HEALTH INTERVENTIONS
MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES
MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS
MENTAL HEALTH POLICY
MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS
MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE DELIVERY
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
MENTAL HEALTH SPECIALISTS
MENTAL HEALTH STATUS
MENTAL HEALTH SURVEY
MENTAL HEALTH SYMPTOMS
MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING
MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT
MENTAL ILLNESS
MENTAL WELLNESS
MENTALLY ILL
MIGRATION
MILD DEPRESSION
MORBIDITY
MORTALITY
MOTHER
NATURAL DISASTERS
NURSES
NUTRITION
NUTRITIONAL STATUS
PANIC ATTACKS
PANIC DISORDERS
PATIENT
PATIENTS
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
PHARMACEUTICALS
PHO
POST TRAUMATIC STRESS
POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER
POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER
POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER
PREVALENCE
PREVENTIVE INTERVENTIONS
PRIMARY CARE
PRIMARY HEALTH CARE
PROBABILITY
PSYCHIATRIC ASSOCIATION
PSYCHIATRIC NURSES
PSYCHIATRISTS
PSYCHIATRY
PSYCHOLOGIST
PSYCHOLOGISTS
PSYCHOLOGY
PSYCHOSIS
PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS
PSYCHOSOCIAL PROBLEMS
PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT
PSYCHOSOCIAL TREATMENT
PSYCHOSOCIAL TREATMENTS
PSYCHOTHERAPY
PSYCHOTROPIC DRUG
PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS
PUBLIC AWARENESS
PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS
PUBLIC HEALTH
QUALITY OF LIFE
REFUGEES
REHABILITATION
RELAXATION EXERCISES
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS
SCHIZOPHRENIA
SCHOOL HEALTH
SECONDARY CARE
SELF-ESTEEM
SELF-HELP
SELF-HELP GROUPS
SEVERE MENTAL DISORDERS
SEVERE SHORTAGE
SLEEP
SOCIAL SERVICES
SOCIALIZATION
SOMATIC COMPLAINTS
STRESSES
SUBSTANCE ABUSE
SUBSTANCE USE
SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS
TB
TOUCH
TRAUMA
TRAUMATIC EVENTS
TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER
TREATMENT
TREATMENT ADHERENCE
TREATMENT OUTCOMES
TROPICAL MEDICINE
TUBERCULOSIS
UNEMPLOYMENT
VIOLENCE
VISION
WELLNESS
WORKERS
WOUNDS
YOUNG CHILDREN
spellingShingle ACCESS TO HEALTH SERVICES
ACUTE EPISODES
ADOLESCENTS
AGED
ALCOHOL USE
ALCOHOL USE DISORDERS
ANTI-DEPRESSANT
ANTI-DEPRESSANTS
ANTIDEPRESSANT
ANTIDEPRESSANT DRUG
ANXIETY
ANXIETY DISORDERS
ANXIOLYTIC DRUGS
BASIC HEALTH
BASIC HEALTH SERVICES
BASIC PSYCHOLOGICAL THERAPIES
BEDS
BEHAVIORAL THERAPY
BIPOLAR DISORDER
BREASTFEEDING
BURDEN OF DISEASE
CHILD CARE
CITIES
CLINICAL OUTCOMES
CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGISTS
COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT
COGNITIVE THERAPY
COMMON MENTAL DISORDERS
COMMUNICABLE DISEASES
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
COMMUNITY HEALTH
COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS
COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CARE
COST EFFECTIVENESS
COUNSELING
COUNSELLING
COUNSELORS
CRIME
DEATHS
DEPRESSANTS
DEPRESSION
DEPRESSIVE
DEPRESSIVE DISORDERS
DETOXIFICATION
DIAGNOSES
DIAGNOSIS
DIARRHEA
DISABILITIES
DISABILITY
DISABILITY COMPONENT
DISABILITY-ADJUSTED LIFE
DISABLED PEOPLE
DISASTERS
DISEASE CONTROL
DISEASE DIAGNOSIS
DISEASE PATTERN
DOCTORS
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
DRUG ABUSE
DRUG USERS
EMOTIONAL SUPPORT
EMOTIONS
ENURESIS
EPILEPSY
EXTERNALITY
FAMILIES
FIRST AID
FORENSIC MEDICINE
FORENSIC PSYCHIATRY
HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS
HEALTH CENTERS
HEALTH EDUCATION
HEALTH EXPERTS
HEALTH INDICATORS
HEALTH INTERVENTIONS
HEALTH MANAGEMENT
HEALTH ORGANIZATION
HEALTH POLICY
HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
HEALTH PROJECTS
HEALTH PROMOTION
HEALTH PROVIDERS
HEALTH SECTOR
HEALTH SERVICE
HEALTH SERVICE DELIVERY
HEALTH SERVICES
HEALTH STATUS
HEALTH STRATEGY
HEALTH SYSTEM
HEALTH TRAINING
HIGH FERTILITY
HOSPITAL SERVICES
HOSPITALS
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
HUMAN RESOURCES
HYGIENE
ILLICIT DRUG USE
INCOME
INFANT MORTALITY
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
INTEGRATION
INTERVENTION
LAWS
MAJOR DEPRESSION
MALNUTRITION
MANAGEMENT OF DEPRESSION
MATERNAL MORTALITY
MEDICAL DOCTORS
MEDICINES
MENTAL
MENTAL DISORDER
MENTAL DISORDERS
MENTAL HEALTH
MENTAL HEALTH ACTIVITIES
MENTAL HEALTH BUDGET
MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION
MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES
MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVES
MENTAL HEALTH INTERVENTIONS
MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES
MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS
MENTAL HEALTH POLICY
MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS
MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE DELIVERY
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
MENTAL HEALTH SPECIALISTS
MENTAL HEALTH STATUS
MENTAL HEALTH SURVEY
MENTAL HEALTH SYMPTOMS
MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING
MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT
MENTAL ILLNESS
MENTAL WELLNESS
MENTALLY ILL
MIGRATION
MILD DEPRESSION
MORBIDITY
MORTALITY
MOTHER
NATURAL DISASTERS
NURSES
NUTRITION
NUTRITIONAL STATUS
PANIC ATTACKS
PANIC DISORDERS
PATIENT
PATIENTS
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
PHARMACEUTICALS
PHO
POST TRAUMATIC STRESS
POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER
POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER
POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER
PREVALENCE
PREVENTIVE INTERVENTIONS
PRIMARY CARE
PRIMARY HEALTH CARE
PROBABILITY
PSYCHIATRIC ASSOCIATION
PSYCHIATRIC NURSES
PSYCHIATRISTS
PSYCHIATRY
PSYCHOLOGIST
PSYCHOLOGISTS
PSYCHOLOGY
PSYCHOSIS
PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS
PSYCHOSOCIAL PROBLEMS
PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT
PSYCHOSOCIAL TREATMENT
PSYCHOSOCIAL TREATMENTS
PSYCHOTHERAPY
PSYCHOTROPIC DRUG
PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS
PUBLIC AWARENESS
PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS
PUBLIC HEALTH
QUALITY OF LIFE
REFUGEES
REHABILITATION
RELAXATION EXERCISES
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS
SCHIZOPHRENIA
SCHOOL HEALTH
SECONDARY CARE
SELF-ESTEEM
SELF-HELP
SELF-HELP GROUPS
SEVERE MENTAL DISORDERS
SEVERE SHORTAGE
SLEEP
SOCIAL SERVICES
SOCIALIZATION
SOMATIC COMPLAINTS
STRESSES
SUBSTANCE ABUSE
SUBSTANCE USE
SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS
TB
TOUCH
TRAUMA
TRAUMATIC EVENTS
TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER
TREATMENT
TREATMENT ADHERENCE
TREATMENT OUTCOMES
TROPICAL MEDICINE
TUBERCULOSIS
UNEMPLOYMENT
VIOLENCE
VISION
WELLNESS
WORKERS
WOUNDS
YOUNG CHILDREN
Sayed, Ghulam Dastagir
Mental Health in Afghanistan : Burden, Challenges and the Way Forward
geographic_facet South Asia
Afghanistan
relation Health, Nutrition and Population (HNP) discussion paper;
description Afghanistan has been in internal and external strife for more than thirty years. Prolonged conflict and civil war have left millions dead, thousands with disabilities and massive internal and external population displacement. The situation has contributed negatively to every aspect of the country and society as the majority of the population has been traumatized by constant conflict, natural disasters, and the difficult Taliban years. There is ample evidence that these calamities have contributed to an increase in mental health problems and has been further complicated by growing level of drug abuse. As Afghanistan rebuilds itself, it is critical to understand the challenges and develop workable solutions. The paucity of high quality data on mental health problems and the lack of qualified human resources have hampered the development of cost-effective strategies and interventions to address the growing challenge of mental health in the country. There are few mental health facilities, and these facilities are scattered across the country with limited capacity and low levels of coverage. In addition, the population continues to face the main stressors with ongoing conflict in various parts of the country. To address mental health issues on a larger scale, this paper recommends public awareness-raising campaigns as a foremost prerequisite. It also proposes to draw on existing resources efficiently. Achieving the aforementioned objectives require political support by the Government of Afghanistan along with technical and financial support of the development partners. This will allow necessary expansion of mental health services and will build the capacity of mental health clinicians and public health experts in the country.
format Publications & Research :: Working Paper
author Sayed, Ghulam Dastagir
author_facet Sayed, Ghulam Dastagir
author_sort Sayed, Ghulam Dastagir
title Mental Health in Afghanistan : Burden, Challenges and the Way Forward
title_short Mental Health in Afghanistan : Burden, Challenges and the Way Forward
title_full Mental Health in Afghanistan : Burden, Challenges and the Way Forward
title_fullStr Mental Health in Afghanistan : Burden, Challenges and the Way Forward
title_full_unstemmed Mental Health in Afghanistan : Burden, Challenges and the Way Forward
title_sort mental health in afghanistan : burden, challenges and the way forward
publisher World Bank, Washington, DC
publishDate 2013
url http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2011/08/15525574/mental-health-afghanistan-burden-challenges-way-forward
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/13589
_version_ 1764423832971509760
spelling okr-10986-135892021-04-23T14:03:08Z Mental Health in Afghanistan : Burden, Challenges and the Way Forward Sayed, Ghulam Dastagir ACCESS TO HEALTH SERVICES ACUTE EPISODES ADOLESCENTS AGED ALCOHOL USE ALCOHOL USE DISORDERS ANTI-DEPRESSANT ANTI-DEPRESSANTS ANTIDEPRESSANT ANTIDEPRESSANT DRUG ANXIETY ANXIETY DISORDERS ANXIOLYTIC DRUGS BASIC HEALTH BASIC HEALTH SERVICES BASIC PSYCHOLOGICAL THERAPIES BEDS BEHAVIORAL THERAPY BIPOLAR DISORDER BREASTFEEDING BURDEN OF DISEASE CHILD CARE CITIES CLINICAL OUTCOMES CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGISTS COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT COGNITIVE THERAPY COMMON MENTAL DISORDERS COMMUNICABLE DISEASES COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY HEALTH COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CARE COST EFFECTIVENESS COUNSELING COUNSELLING COUNSELORS CRIME DEATHS DEPRESSANTS DEPRESSION DEPRESSIVE DEPRESSIVE DISORDERS DETOXIFICATION DIAGNOSES DIAGNOSIS DIARRHEA DISABILITIES DISABILITY DISABILITY COMPONENT DISABILITY-ADJUSTED LIFE DISABLED PEOPLE DISASTERS DISEASE CONTROL DISEASE DIAGNOSIS DISEASE PATTERN DOCTORS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DRUG ABUSE DRUG USERS EMOTIONAL SUPPORT EMOTIONS ENURESIS EPILEPSY EXTERNALITY FAMILIES FIRST AID FORENSIC MEDICINE FORENSIC PSYCHIATRY HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS HEALTH CENTERS HEALTH EDUCATION HEALTH EXPERTS HEALTH INDICATORS HEALTH INTERVENTIONS HEALTH MANAGEMENT HEALTH ORGANIZATION HEALTH POLICY HEALTH PROFESSIONALS HEALTH PROJECTS HEALTH PROMOTION HEALTH PROVIDERS HEALTH SECTOR HEALTH SERVICE HEALTH SERVICE DELIVERY HEALTH SERVICES HEALTH STATUS HEALTH STRATEGY HEALTH SYSTEM HEALTH TRAINING HIGH FERTILITY HOSPITAL SERVICES HOSPITALS HUMAN DEVELOPMENT HUMAN RESOURCES HYGIENE ILLICIT DRUG USE INCOME INFANT MORTALITY INFECTIOUS DISEASES INTEGRATION INTERVENTION LAWS MAJOR DEPRESSION MALNUTRITION MANAGEMENT OF DEPRESSION MATERNAL MORTALITY MEDICAL DOCTORS MEDICINES MENTAL MENTAL DISORDER MENTAL DISORDERS MENTAL HEALTH MENTAL HEALTH ACTIVITIES MENTAL HEALTH BUDGET MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVES MENTAL HEALTH INTERVENTIONS MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS MENTAL HEALTH POLICY MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE DELIVERY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES MENTAL HEALTH SPECIALISTS MENTAL HEALTH STATUS MENTAL HEALTH SURVEY MENTAL HEALTH SYMPTOMS MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT MENTAL ILLNESS MENTAL WELLNESS MENTALLY ILL MIGRATION MILD DEPRESSION MORBIDITY MORTALITY MOTHER NATURAL DISASTERS NURSES NUTRITION NUTRITIONAL STATUS PANIC ATTACKS PANIC DISORDERS PATIENT PATIENTS PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES PHARMACEUTICALS PHO POST TRAUMATIC STRESS POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER PREVALENCE PREVENTIVE INTERVENTIONS PRIMARY CARE PRIMARY HEALTH CARE PROBABILITY PSYCHIATRIC ASSOCIATION PSYCHIATRIC NURSES PSYCHIATRISTS PSYCHIATRY PSYCHOLOGIST PSYCHOLOGISTS PSYCHOLOGY PSYCHOSIS PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS PSYCHOSOCIAL PROBLEMS PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT PSYCHOSOCIAL TREATMENT PSYCHOSOCIAL TREATMENTS PSYCHOTHERAPY PSYCHOTROPIC DRUG PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS PUBLIC AWARENESS PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS PUBLIC HEALTH QUALITY OF LIFE REFUGEES REHABILITATION RELAXATION EXERCISES REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS SCHIZOPHRENIA SCHOOL HEALTH SECONDARY CARE SELF-ESTEEM SELF-HELP SELF-HELP GROUPS SEVERE MENTAL DISORDERS SEVERE SHORTAGE SLEEP SOCIAL SERVICES SOCIALIZATION SOMATIC COMPLAINTS STRESSES SUBSTANCE ABUSE SUBSTANCE USE SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS TB TOUCH TRAUMA TRAUMATIC EVENTS TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER TREATMENT TREATMENT ADHERENCE TREATMENT OUTCOMES TROPICAL MEDICINE TUBERCULOSIS UNEMPLOYMENT VIOLENCE VISION WELLNESS WORKERS WOUNDS YOUNG CHILDREN Afghanistan has been in internal and external strife for more than thirty years. Prolonged conflict and civil war have left millions dead, thousands with disabilities and massive internal and external population displacement. The situation has contributed negatively to every aspect of the country and society as the majority of the population has been traumatized by constant conflict, natural disasters, and the difficult Taliban years. There is ample evidence that these calamities have contributed to an increase in mental health problems and has been further complicated by growing level of drug abuse. As Afghanistan rebuilds itself, it is critical to understand the challenges and develop workable solutions. The paucity of high quality data on mental health problems and the lack of qualified human resources have hampered the development of cost-effective strategies and interventions to address the growing challenge of mental health in the country. There are few mental health facilities, and these facilities are scattered across the country with limited capacity and low levels of coverage. In addition, the population continues to face the main stressors with ongoing conflict in various parts of the country. To address mental health issues on a larger scale, this paper recommends public awareness-raising campaigns as a foremost prerequisite. It also proposes to draw on existing resources efficiently. Achieving the aforementioned objectives require political support by the Government of Afghanistan along with technical and financial support of the development partners. This will allow necessary expansion of mental health services and will build the capacity of mental health clinicians and public health experts in the country. 2013-05-28T21:45:11Z 2013-05-28T21:45:11Z 2011-08 http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2011/08/15525574/mental-health-afghanistan-burden-challenges-way-forward http://hdl.handle.net/10986/13589 English en_US Health, Nutrition and Population (HNP) discussion paper; CC BY 3.0 IGO http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo/ World Bank World Bank, Washington, DC Publications & Research :: Working Paper Publications & Research South Asia Afghanistan