Mission
ISNA Mental Health is dedicated to promoting the mental wellbeing and resilience of Muslim individuals, families, and communities by recognizing and uplifting the efforts of Muslim communities and organizations. Our aim is to do this by leveraging Islamic knowledge, Muslim history and culture, and related mental health theory and evidence to facilitate mental health literacy in Muslims and the providers interested in supporting them.
Our Team
Our team brings together professionals with expertise in wellness and mental health, including psychologists, counselors, social workers, chaplains, physicians, researchers, peer specialists, people with lived experience, mental health advocates, and community leaders. Collectively, we have experience supporting individuals, families, and communities across a wide range of mental health concerns, with a particular commitment to advancing Muslim mental health and wellbeing.
We work collaboratively to develop educational content, highlight trusted resources created by Muslim communities and organizations, and ensure that the information shared through this initiative remains relevant, evidence-informed, Islamically-integrated, and responsive to community needs. As this initiative continues to grow, we welcome feedback, suggestions, and opportunities for collaboration.
What is mental health literacy?
It is important to recognize that all knowledge based on sound evidence is congruent with Islam:
- Anas ibn Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim.” (Sunan Ibn Mājah 224, Grade: Sahih)
- Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “The virtue of knowledge is more beloved to me than the virtue of worship, and the best of your religion is piety.” (al-Ādāblil-Bayhaqī 818, Grade: Sahih)
- Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “When the human being dies, his deeds end except for three: ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge, or a righteous child who prays for him.” (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1631, Grade: Sahih)
- Abdullah ibn Amr reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Whoever practices medicine without any prior knowledge of medicine will be held liable.” (Sunan Ibn Mājah3466, Grade: Sahih)
- Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessing be upon him, said: “Moses asked his Lord about six traits he thought he had… Moses said: Who are the most knowledgeable of Your servants? Allah said: A scholar who is unsatisfied with his knowledge and adds the knowledge of people to his own…” (Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān 6217, Grade: Hasan)
Mental health literacy according to Jorm (2019) includes multiple components such as knowledge surrounding (a) preventing mental disorders (b) recognizing when a disorder is developing (c) the available treatments and supports available (d) effective self-help strategies for mild concerns and (e) how to support others who are in a mental health crisis.
Strategic Goals
- Muslim individuals, families, and communities will recognize the relationships between mental health, Islamic teachings, and the history of Muslims.
- Muslim individuals, families, and communities will learn how to identify and address their mental health needs, including through available treatments and how and where to access them.
- Muslim individuals, families, and communities will learn approaches rooted in both Islamic and mental health understandings to build resilience in the face of mental health difficulties.
- Muslim individuals, families, and communities will have access to a tangible landing page that localizes Muslim-specific resources developed by our communities and organizations for appropriate preventative care, non-acute care, and mental health crises.
- Muslim mental health professionals, and non-Muslim providers who are interested in serving Muslims, will learn how to provide culturally and spiritually integrated services to Muslim individuals, families, and communities in need.
- Advisory Group
Current Advisory Group
Syed Imtiaz Ahmad
Ph.D., President, ISNA
Basharat Saleem
MBA, Executive Director, ISNA
Azhar Azeez
MBA, CEO, ISNA
Salman Shaheen Ahmad
Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow in Implementation Science, University of Pennsylvania
Merranda M. McLaughlin
Ph.D., Psychologist, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School
Katherine Bullock
Ph.D., Lecturer, University of Toronto
Sarfraz S. Khan
M.D., Chief Medical Officer, Meridian Health Services
Rabia Subhani
Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow in Implementation Science, University of Pennsylvania
Tarnem Amer
Ph.D., Clinical Fellow, Long Island University
Anisah Bagasra
Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Kennesaw State University
Mona Abo-Zena
Ph.D., Assistant Professor, University of Massachusetts Boston
Hanaa Yunus
Ph.D. candidate
Rumia Owaisi
Ph.D. candidate
Dr. Ali Syed
D.O., Community Educator & Outreach Coordinator, Khair Collective
Belal Zia
Ph.D., Psychologist, Discourse Psychology Centre
Mallak Saleh
B.S
Duaa Bilal
Ph.D. candidate
Aminah McBryde-Redzovic
Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Benedictine University
Imam Muhammad Zayd Mutaqeen
Psy.D. student
- Advisory Group
Past Advisory Group
Saadia Ahmad
Ph.D.
Ibrahim Mohammad
M.D.
Rania Awaad
Ph.D.
Marwa Mahmod
M.Ed.
Ibrahim Ahmadzai
B.S.