Cooperating with prominent community organizations, an American Muslim group is planning to host the first Muslim Mental Health Conference for Community Leaders in Houston, Texas on Saturday, May 14.
Planned on May, the month in which the US marks the Mental Health Awareness Month, the conference comes as a timely reminder that mental health is important and that people who suffer from mental illnesses are deserving of compassion, understanding, and routes to hope.
“Mental health is a great challenge faced by people from all walks of life. There is a huge disparity in access to mental health services, especially for lower-income communities,” Ibn Sina Foundation (ISF) said in a statement online.
📚 Read Also: Is Faith the Ultimate Solution to All Mental Health Issues?
“The goal of the conference is to challenge the status quo and inform the community leaders on mental health status, sensitize them on mental health needs, and provide resources; information to promote mental and wellness services.”
Community Leaders
The conference will be a unique forum to bring together community leaders and professionals to understand the needs and navigate the individuals and families to the right resources.
It will also provide an opportunity to engage, discuss, and develop a better understanding of the prevalence, challenges, and resources in managing these conditions.
The conference will be attended by a galaxy of leaders and professionals from Texas and other States including.
Mayor Houston, Sylvester Turner, as Chief Guest; Congressman Al Green, Guest of Honor; and Attorney General, Keith Ellison, Guest of Honor, and other public officials have been invited to support this conference and promote mental health awareness.
Mental Health
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), depressive disorders are the fourth leading cause of ill health and disability amongst adults worldwide.
All over the world, many Muslims are reluctant to seek out mental health professionals because of the stigma attached to mental illness or because they fear that a Western-trained therapist will not understand their culture or religion.
Defying stigma attached to mental health problems, a group of Muslim women in Milwaukee hosted a two-day mental health conference last September.