Recognising structural inequalities for Muslim families and communities

In this video, Dr Sufyan Dogra explains the importance of recognising diversity and contextual factors when designing health interventions and promotion.

Dr Dogra is Principal Research Fellow at the Bradford Institute for Health Research, and is editor of the book ‘British Muslims, Ethnicity and Health Inequalities’ which will be published in November 2022.

Dr Dogra explains what is meant by the ‘pathologisation’ of Muslim communities in Britain. This is when culturally or religiously informed lifestyle preferences are taken as primary causes of health problems, and structural inequalities for ethnic and migrant communities are not considered sufficiently.

Dr Dogra suggests that the conversation should shift from a focus on barriers, to that of facilitators. Ethnic cultures, religious communities, and families are all potential facilitators of better mental health. He recommends co-production in the development of health intervention and promotion.

In the next step, we introduce a topic for discussion among learners.

Over to you

Summarise the key points from this video below – try to include a definition of pathologisation and describe at least one example of a ‘facilitator’ for better mental health.

You may want to include a note in your reflective diary on whether you think Muslim communities are pathologised in relation to mental health, and what you might do as a practitioner to address this.