Islamic beliefs and mental health

In this video, Dr Rothman focuses on Islamic beliefs and their impact on the mental health of Muslims. He describes being a “good Muslim” as a journey or process, rather than a destination.

Misconceptions around what it means to be a good Muslim can impact directly on mental health and can affect whether, and how, Muslims seek support for mental health problems. While Islamic beliefs can be a resource for resilience, misinterpretations of some beliefs can lead to Muslims not seeking support for mental health problems.

Dr Rothman describes the Islamic principle that one should not expose one’s faults or bad behaviours, which can impact on the likelihood of Muslims engaging in ‘talking therapies’. He explains the reasoning behind the principle and offers an alternative interpretation for Muslims based on Islamic scholarship – that Muslims can share these matters with someone who is knowledgeable to increase their self-awareness and make positive change for the sake of health and healing.

Dr Rothman makes some practical recommendations on how to incorporate faith as a resource for mental health support.

Over to you

Dr Rothman recommends that practitioners use Islamic practices and beliefs as resources when providing mental health support for Muslims; if the practitioner does not have the required skills and knowledge, they should consult an authoritative person of religious knowledge.

• Do you have the skills and knowledge to incorporate Islamic beliefs and practices when providing mental health support? If so, can you share an example?
• If not, do you know who you would consult, how do you think you might find someone to help?

Please use this opportunity to share resources, such as helpful websites and organisations, that might help your fellow learners.