VOA文化艺术2023--Art Helps Afghan Women Struggling with Depression

Art Helps Afghan Women Struggling with Depression

At her home in northern Afghanistan, a 19-year old woman draws her own image. In the drawing, she is covered by a blue burqa and is inside a cage.

The woman, named Khushi, is a former university student. She once attended classes in law and political science at northern Balkh province's main university.

However, the Taliban closed it and other learning institutions to women in December of 2022. Since then, Khushi has developed deep sadness, or depression. She now needs mental health treatment. Part of her treatment includes art therapy classes.

She told Reuters reporters, "When I realized that I am not mentally well, I got sad ... I was not happy at all. I was always depressed¹, I felt like a bird being stuck in a cage, one who has lost all her happiness."

Khushi, who is identified by only one name for security reasons, added, "After the Taliban banned girls from universities and announced that girls can no longer continue our education, I felt so upset."

Over time, she said, her mental health got worse. She finally decided² to see a mental health doctor, called a psychiatrist³.

Khushi's psychiatrist cannot be named for security reasons. But he told Reuters that art studios are the only places that remain for helping⁴ his patients.

He said, art studios "...have become the only place where girls can clear their minds, catch up with old friends, make new friends, and apart from that, they can learn art too."

Inside a small art studio in Balkh's capital Mazar-i-Sharif, paintings hang on the walls. Several young women, including Khushi, have gathered for a pencil drawing class. Many of them have been sent here at the recommendation of a mental health expert. The goals are to ease their loneliness and learn a new skill, as well as talk about their situations and take medication.

One of the former university students in the pencil drawing class said, "When I felt depressed, the doctor prescribed me to go to a place where I can calm my mind. I chose the art studio. Not only did I make good friends here, I also receive art therapy."

Khushi said art therapy gave her a break from her home situation. She said it also gave her a bit of hope for the future.

"It gives me a sense of accomplishment⁵ for having made something...overall drawing empowers me with confidence," she said. "I'm disappointed in my life, but I am not giving up, I will fight. I hope things will get better in the future."

Khushi now sees her psychiatrist twice a month. The doctor used to see four to five patients a day. But he said he now sees 10 to 15 patients each day. Most of them are women. The increase became especially noticeable after the Taliban banned female students from attending universities, the doctor said.

Restrictions⁶ on women

A source told Reuters that "...since the Islamic Emirate (the Taliban administration) started ruling the country, they have imposed so many restrictions on women." This source adds that women have been banned from universities, as well as amusement parks and beauty salons⁸.

Health organizations estimate half of Afghanistan's 40 million people have experienced mental struggles after many years of war. There have been few dependable studies on mental health issues in the country. But doctors and aid workers say that more women are struggling with mental health after government orders to restrict their work and education.

Afghan women and mental health experts say that many women are now struggling with a deep sense of hopelessness and mental health problems. This is especially true of women in cities. Those women gained openings in education and work during the 20-year presence of foreign troops and a Western-backed government.

The Taliban closed universities to women in December of last year. The move led to rare public protests. The decision came after the closure of most girls' high schools. Later, the Taliban ordered most female humanitarian⁹ workers not to work.

The orders restricting women from public life have led to strong international criticism. Western governments have said it is a main problem standing¹⁰ in the way of officially recognizing the Taliban's government. The Taliban government took over the area as foreign forces left two years ago.

The Taliban say they respect women's rights in line with their view of Islamic law and Afghan culture.

Words in This Story

burqa – n. a loose piece of clothing that covers the face and body and is worn in public by certain Muslim women

therapy – n. treatment of an abnormal state of the mind or body

studio – n. a place for the study of an art (such as dancing, singing, or acting)

prescribe – v.

accomplishment – n. an ability, social quality, or skill gained through training or practice

confidence – n. a feeling of trust or belief

disappointed – adj. defeated in expectation or hope

impose – v. to establish or apply as a charge or penalty

amusement park – n. a park with many rides (as a roller coaster or merry-go-round) and games for entertainment

 

beauty salon⁷ – n. a place of business for the care of customers' hair, skin, and nails

1 depressed   

adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的

参考例句：

• When he was depressed,he felt utterly divorced from reality.他心情沮丧时就感到完全脱离了现实。
• His mother was depressed by the sad news.这个坏消息使他的母亲意志消沉。

2 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

3 psychiatrist   

n.精神病专家；精神病医师

参考例句：

• He went to a psychiatrist about his compulsive gambling.他去看精神科医生治疗不能自拔的赌瘾。
• The psychiatrist corrected him gently.精神病医师彬彬有礼地纠正他。

4 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

5 accomplishment   

n.完成，成就，（pl.）造诣，技能

参考例句：

• The series of paintings is quite an accomplishment.这一系列的绘画真是了不起的成就。
• Money will be crucial to the accomplishment of our objectives.要实现我们的目标，钱是至关重要的。

6 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

7 salon   

n.[法]沙龙；客厅；营业性的高级服务室

参考例句：

• Do you go to the hairdresser or beauty salon more than twice a week?你每周去美容院或美容沙龙多过两次吗？
• You can hear a lot of dirt at a salon.你在沙龙上会听到很多流言蜚语。

8 salons   

n.（营业性质的）店( salon的名词复数 )；厅；沙龙（旧时在上流社会女主人家的例行聚会或聚会场所）；（大宅中的）客厅

参考例句：

• He used to attend to his literary salons. 他过去常常去参加他的文学沙龙。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Conspiracy theories about Jewish financiers were the talk of Paris salons. 犹太金融家阴谋论成为巴黎沙龙的话题。 来自互联网

9 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

10 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。