Kabul, Afghanistan – “She contacted the Youth Health Line (YHL) in a state of distress, feeling anxious, experiencing a headache, struggling with sleep issues, feeling bored, having suicidal thoughts and feeling discouraged about life in general.” 

Dr. Zarmina Jahed, a counselor working with the YHL, remembers the days she received a call from Meena,* a young girl in distress who sought help through the YHL.

Callers, especially those calling the hotline for the first time, may not always feel comfortable sharing their needs with the operators, explained Dr. Jahed, who handled Meena’s call. “We established trust by reassuring her about privacy and confidentiality, which allowed her to feel comfortable asking questions. By gaining her trust, we were able to encourage her to share her story, enabling me to provide effective support.”

"It was challenging to help Meena and offer support through her trauma,” Dr. Jahed said. “It took multiple sessions before I could persuade her that life is more than just loving someone and that giving up is not the answer. I reassured her that life doesn't revolve around romantic relationships and that there are people around her who are more important than any particular individual.”

After several counselling sessions through the YHL, Meena came to understand the importance of continuing to live and realized that suicide was not a solution to her trauma. “The YHL successfully helped shift her mindset away from suicidal thoughts and towards embracing life,” Dr. Jahed added.

Amidst the crisis in Afghanistan, specifically the ban on education for girls and their limited access to services, numerous Afghan youth turned to the YHL as a dependable and trusted source for addressing their worries regarding well-being, stress, health and trauma. Thanks to the support of the Government of Iceland, the YHL continues to operate and the guidance and therapy provided by professional health staff such as Dr. Jahed and her team to young Afghans who reach out to them like Meena, are consistently valuable, supportive and often crucial for saving lives in many situations.

Meena was grateful for the support and free services provided by the YHL. “Without their help, I may not have survived, they helped transform me into a different person,” Meena expressed her gratitude to Dr. Jahed.

The toll-free 120 hotline aims to offer counseling, information and referrals to adolescents and youth in Afghanistan. Through its efforts, the YHL has successfully tackled a range of issues including health concerns, psychosocial problems and child marriage.

*Name changed to protect subject’s privacy.