A Stanford Professor Discusses the Barriers the Must be Overcome
Mental health care in America has made strides in recent decades. Conditions like depression and anxiety that were once stigmatized are now openly discussed and treated. But for religious minorities, especially Muslim Americans, significant barriers to mental health care remain.
Dr. Rania Awaad, a professor of psychiatry at Stanford University who is also Director of the Stanford Muslim Mental Health & Islamic Psychology Lab is working to break down those barriers. Dr. Awaad outlined the challenges facing Muslim mental health on Stanford’s The Future of Everything.
A Diverse Community With Diverse Needs
Muslim Americans come from varied ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds. According to Dr. Awaad, “It’s a very diverse community, not homogenous in any way.” Providing appropriate mental health interventions for this diverse population is complex. Some are recent immigrants struggling to adjust, while others come from families established here for generations. Reducing stigma and increasing access to care are major obstacles.
Heightened Pressures and Trauma
Anti-Muslim discrimination and political rhetoric add strain on mental health. Factors like immigration status, family overseas, and intergenerational trauma related to racism all play a role, notes Dr. Awaad. “Where you do find some major differences have to do with adjustment rates, adjusting to the current climate,” she says.
To deliver culturally competent care, clinicians must grasp how Islam and mental health intersect. Dr. Awaad has researched Islamic texts and discovered traditions like talk therapy that can inform modern practice. “The Islamic faith as a faith is very much in line with holistic health and healing,” she explains. “Mental health is part of holistic health.”
Dr. Awaad notes the importance of distinguishing cultural taboos from actual religious principles. By citing scripture, she can assure reluctant patients that seeking treatment aligns with their faith. To spread these insights, Dr. Awaad co-founded a nonprofit offering trainings for mental health professionals. With understanding and partnerships between providers and Muslim communities, we can support the wellbeing of all Americans.
One major challenge is ensuring access to mental health care across the community’s diversity. The Muslim community here is far from homogenous – there is wide ethnic, racial, socioeconomic, and religious diversity. With so many different groups, providing appropriate mental health outreach is a complex undertaking.
Stigma Barriers to Overcome
There are also stigma barriers related to mental health that impact access. Depending on acculturation factors like immigrant generation status, stigma may be greater due to cultural views. Recent immigrants may struggle with divided identities and concerns for overseas family. First generation youth, while raised here, face different issues than their immigrant parents.
For African American Muslims, she says tha there is intergenerational trauma related to longtime experiences of racism and marginalization. Each segment of the diverse Muslim community has distinct needs and challenges regarding mental health. The goal is to reduce stigma and increase culturally-competent access across all demographics – a multifaceted challenge but essential to address.
Source: Stanford/ The Future of Everything/ Ross Altman X: @RBAltman/ @StanfordENG
