Presentation Information
[O-5-01]Unaddressed and Unseen: Muslims’ perspectives on mental health and illness (Cape Town, South Africa)
*Mariam Salie, Shaheen Ashraf Kagee (Stellenbosch University (South Africa))
Keywords:
Muslim,Mental health,explanatory model
Mental health remains stigmatized across many cultural and religious communities, including within Muslim communities in South Africa (SA), where Muslim mental health (MMH) is an under-researched topic. With Islam as the fastest growing religion in the world, and multiple global events affecting Muslims, there has been an increase in Muslims seeking mental healthcare. Considering this, recent literature has underscored the importance of providing culturally competent healthcare. Understanding Muslims’ explanatory models (EM) of mental health conditions (MHC) will facilitate care that meets Muslims’ needs appropriately. Existing dated, limited, studies conducted in SA highlight the need to explore this further.The current study is part of a broader study exploring the EM of MHC amongst Muslims in the Western Cape from a multi-stakeholder perspective. This presentation will present findings from one stakeholder group, the general Muslim public. Five focus groups were conducted, utilizing semi-structured interviews, with a total of 18 participants recruited through purposive and snowball sampling. Participants were Muslims over the age of 18; 13 females and five males. Participants had never been treated for a MHC, but majority had a family member with a diagnosed MHC. To protect confidentiality, further demographics were not obtained. Data were coded inductively and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Preliminary findings reveal that mental health is viewed through a multifaceted lens intertwining Islamic teachings, cultural norms, and societal expectations. Participants highlighted the significant role of faith in coping with mental health challenges, with many referencing prayers, trust in Allah, and reliance on religious practices as primary sources of support. However, the stigma surrounding mental illness was a recurring theme, with participants reporting that mental health struggles are often “not spoken about” openly within their communities. This silence was attributed to fears of social judgment, misconceptions about mental health, and limited mental health literacy.