Women in Afghanistan experience some of the highest rates of depression in the world, shaped by a combination of prolonged conflict, displacement, poverty, and restrictive social conditions. Decades of war have wrought havoc upon educational opportunities, health outcomes and family stability, leaving many women to carry heavy emotional burdens while also caring for their households. And there’s a shame to admitting to depresstion that leads many women to struggle silently, without supportive services that could help them recover and thrive.
“Teacher, can I register for the next class?” a woman asked me today. “Won’t you have just had a baby?” I responded, knowing that most women who register to attend after their baby’s birth will drop out for two months or more. “I had bad, what do you call it, depression? After my last baby, I had depression. I must get out of the house after this baby is born,” she responded.
I’m so proud of Maja. Many women won’t admit to depression so honestly, even when the symptoms are clearly part of their experience. But here was Maja admitting openly to others about her experiences with post-partum depression, and then proactively making plans to cope with what might be coming. I shared with her my own struggles with post-partum depression and then told her, “Yes, you can come as soon as you want to come after the baby’s birth!”
Later, I heard Maja laughing with a teacher on the other side of the sewing studio. Early in our classes, I had asked Maja what made her laugh. “I don’t laugh very much,” she admitted. “I’m too sad.” Hearing her laugh today made my own heart very, very happy. I’m so glad we have a space to welcome women into creativity, friendship and yes, joy.
When women gain access to safe spaces, skills training, and supportive networks, they often report improvements in emotional well-being. There’s something about having time to learn and grow, laugh and share, create and design that seems to bring snatches of joy to our students. This includes listening without judgment, allowing women to share their stories at their own pace, and giving opportunity to share about their own home cultures. In fact, it’s so important that women process the fact that their home country is a very important part of who they are and it’s okay to miss it, to mourn it, and to want to remember the beautiful.
We’ve recently been walking through the story of Ruth and her refugee journey, as found in the Bible. Talking about experiencing grief, about the journey to a new country, about the plight of widows – these stories resonate and remind our students that their experience of depression is felt by many other women too. Programs that bring women together can restore a sense of belonging and shared understanding. Women feel seen and cared for. Like Maja, we see again and again women lighting up as they enter our classrooms. As one student told us, “You are my family here.”