Religious Interpretations of Mental Illness and Help-Seeking Experiences Among Muslim Americans: Implications for Clinical Practice
Department
Psychological Science
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2023
Abstract
The present study examines the role of religious interpretation in conceptualizations of mental illness and experiences with mental health providers in a sample of Muslim Americans. As part of a larger study, participants completed an anonymous online or article-based survey. A portion of the larger sample responded to four open-ended questions delving deeper into interpretations of mental illness and personal experiences with mental health concerns and mental health professionals. Of the 255 participants, 190 provided an open-ended response with their definition of mental illness, 66 described their beliefs regarding the causes of mental illness, 50 described personal experiences with mental health issues, and 34 described experiences interacting with mental health professionals. This study analyzes the responses that focus on an Islamic spiritual or religious interpretation or view the encounter with a mental health professional through the lens of religious identity. The implications of both religious worldview and Islamic identity on effective spiritually competent practice in the clinical setting are outlined.
Journal Title
Spirituality in Clinical Practice
Journal ISSN
23264500
Volume
10
Issue
1
First Page
20
Last Page
31
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.1037/scp0000299