Psychosocial Services

The healthcare community in Afghanistan has barely begun the work of identifying Afghans that are disabled by mental illness or stress. The physiotherapists at PARSA clinic say that almost 30% of the clients that they see do not have physical ailments but are suffering from mental health problems. Because of the tendency to somatosize symptoms, the front line and ancillary health care workers in Afghanistan are the first to see the mentally ill. These health care providers are in the best position to support patients as they seek relief from their symptoms. The PARSA Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Center staff has received psychosocial training to provide very basic and effective therapeutic tools to professional and para-professional healthcare workers that will make the possibility of treatment available to Afghans who would not otherwise receive any mental health intervention.