Working with Muslim Mental Health Clients

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About this resource

This resource provides a broad overview of the key concepts around mental health within the Muslim culture with specific knowledge and tips as well as case studies to exemplify cultural perspectives.

The purpose of the resource is to enable health practitioners to gain understanding of what is required to provide culturally appropriate engagement for Muslim mental health consumers and their families.

This resource is recommended for health practitioners working with Muslim mental health clients and families.

This resource includes

• A brief introduction to Muslim culture and the different ethnic groups from Muslim backgrounds living in New Zealand.

• An overview of specific Muslim beliefs around: mental health; approaches to mental health issues; and treatment methods.

• Different beliefs and misconceptions about accessing services, based on international experiences.

• The role of families and their level of involvement in a Muslim’s client’s life.

• The mediating and therapeutic roles of Imams and other community supports in the recovery of Muslim clients.

• Stigma and discrimination around mental illness in the Muslim community and the impact on clients/families.

• Specific tools for engaging with distressed Muslim clients and the importance of building trust.

• Issues around confidentiality/privacy in the Muslim community and ways to address these.