Mental Health in Islam
In Islam, mental health is considered to be an
integral part of a person's overall well-being and spiritual health. The
concept of mental health in Islam is rooted in the belief that the mind and
body are interconnected, and that both are important for maintaining overall
health and spiritual balance.
Islam teaches that maintaining good mental
health is a religious duty and that Muslims should strive to maintain balance
and equilibrium in their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Muslims are
encouraged to seek help and support if they are struggling with mental health
issues and to engage in practices such as prayer and Namaz to improve
their mental well-being.
Islam also teaches that mental health
disorders may be caused by a variety of factors, including spiritual,
psychological, and social factors, and that people who suffer from mental
health disorders should not be stigmatized or discriminated against.
Islamic scholars have also highlighted the
importance of seeking help from trained professionals, in addition to seeking
help from religious scholars, in dealing with mental health issues. They
recommended that people should seek help from a qualified therapist,
psychologist, or psychiatrist, especially if the problems persist.
Little research has been done to understand attitudes toward mental health by Muslim Americans, specifically those who were born and raised in the United States, despite the growing number of American Muslims living in the country, their frequent encounters with prejudice, and their increased self-reports of emotional stress. It is logical to assume that Muslims who were born in the United States reflect the future of Islam in the country based on current demographic patterns.
This study looked at 184 Muslim college students who were American-born and their attitudes toward mental health. An approach to the survey that was mostly quantitative was used. Participants' additional responses to an open-ended survey question elaborated on how some of the study's themes present themselves in actual circumstances.
This report makes several suggestions. One of them is a request:
- In order to better serve young adult Muslims who were born in America, professional mental health treatment professionals should become more multiculturally competent.
- Employ and educate Muslim chaplains in colleges.
- Inform Muslim community members and religious authorities about mental health-related issues.
- Create strategies to lessen the stigma associated with mental illness in the American Muslim community through religious institutions.
- Increase financing for additional studies on the mental health requirements of young adults who were born in the United States and of Americans in general.