Changes in our mental health can affect how we think, feel and act in our daily lives. When our mental health isn’t taken into account, often our abilities to make decisions, build relationships and exist in the world we live in can be impacted.
Mental health refers to our emotional, psychological and social well-being. When we neglect caring for our mental health, it can often affect other aspects of our lives. Our mental health is an essential part of our overall health and well-being, as there is a direct correlation between the body and mind. Ignoring signs of declining mental health can also risk harming our bodies. So, just as we would take care of our physical health, it’s equally important to check-in with how we’re doing mentally.
It’s important to recognize that mental health problems are not a sign of weakness or a lack of faith. They are a part of life and can happen to anyone. A common stereotype of mental illness is that if one is not religious enough, they will experience mental health issues. But it doesn’t matter how much you pray or read the Quran or work on strengthening your spirituality; ultimately, mental health issues can affect anyone. Faith is our relationship to God, while mental health issues arise from psychological, biological and environmental factors.
There are many factors that influence our mental state. These include psychological, biological and environmental contributors.
Mental health is fluid; so while there may be one day where we feel okay mentally, we have to make sure these feelings are sustainable. Regularly checking in on ourselves and environmental stressors is a step towards ensuring optimal mental health. Achieving better states in our mental, spiritual and physiological health is a constant journey that we traverse all our lives.
“By the brightness of mid-morning, by the night’s darkness. Your Lord hasn’t deserted you, nor is He displeased with you. Your future will be better than the past.” [93:1-4]
Even if, or when, our dedication to Allah falters, His dedication to us remains. Know that you are never alone even if you may feel like it in that moment. Seeking mental health support can be a nerve-wracking experience, even if you’ve done it before, but especially if you haven’t. Nevertheless, it’s an important step in maintaining your overall well-being, and Sakeenah’s here to help.
There are many different resources available and ways that people choose to better their mental health. Because of the vast variety of methods, it’s often a matter of trial and error until you find out what works best for you.
While this list only has one treatment for mental illness (psychotherapy), the other options help us learn to navigate our bodies and minds in ways that can help us achieve an overall balance. InshaAllah this introduction offers you a place to start, and may Allah make your mental health journey flow with ease. Ameen.
Sakeenah Canada, a national charitable organization, was founded in 2018 in response to a gap in culturally and religiously sensitive services available for women and children facing domestic violence and homelessness. Since then, our services have expanded to include mental health therapy and counseling. Sakeenah has also started The People’s Market, a food program that helps combat food insecurity, and has become the first licensed foster care agency for Muslim children in all of North America. We currently operate 8 transitional homes across Canada: Toronto, Brampton, Milton, London, Montreal, Ottawa, Winnipeg, and Regina, in addition to the first long-term housing program for Muslim women and children in Canada, in Windsor.
Every night, thousands of women and children in Canada face homelessness, poverty, and trauma. We are on a mission to change that.
While Sakeenah functions at a national level, our head office and The People’s Market operate out of land that is part of the Treaty and Traditional Territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, The Haudenosaunee Confederacy, the Huron-Wendat and Wyandot Nations.
Sakeenah believes that while a land acknowledgement is the first step, we also understand that land acknowledgements alone are not sufficient to redress the harm caused by centuries of land theft, forced displacement and ongoing acts of settler colonialism. We recognize that this work is ongoing and complex, and we are dedicated to doing our part to create a better future for all.
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