Mental health impacts of earthquake on Afghans amidst humanitarian crisis

The deadly earthquake in southeast Afghanistan on June 22, 2022 was a tragedy amidst the country's humanitarian crisis. It cost more than a thousand people's lives, caused three times more injuries, and destroyed many houses, mainly in Spera, Giyan, and Barmal districts. WHO and other NGOs responded to incidence, focusing on physical injuries, food shortage, and shelter, while mental health was not adequately emphasized. Almost half of the Afghanistan population suffers from mental disorders due to decades of civil war, economic instability, and natural disasters. The recent earthquake further exacerbates the mental conditions among earthquake victims and their families, making them vulnerable to severe mental disorders. The absence of local mental facilities and proper roads delayed the early response and made the follow-up difficult leading to serious mental issues and costly management. Although WHO and HealthNet TPO sent their mental health professionals to consult the earthquake victims and train health care workers, the sociocultural beliefs made the approach difficult and its result suspicious. Moreover, the stigma around mental health and the lack of female HCWs stop people from seeking mental healthcare.