HEALTH & WELLNESS
Supporting Our Children’s Mental Health While Navigating the Pandemic Ending the stigma of mental illness BY AMINAH SALIM
T
he Muslim community has not actively addressed its members’ mental health. As a result, many mosques lack the professionals needed to address the various mental illnesses present within their communities. Most Muslim schools have no staff members who are equipped to provide mental health support to their students. Illnesses such as autism, schizophrenia and ADHD, just to name a few, are common. In fact, many of us have a loved one or friend who is suffering from such an illness. For example, ADHD is a common disorder that affects many school-age children, and yet many Muslim children reman undiagnosed. Then at the start of 2020 came COVID, a pandemic that forever changed the lives of people worldwide. Along with it came an increase in mental health disorders in children — higher rates of anxiety, depression and even suicide. Many children have been negatively affected by the pandemic’s serious side effects. Their schools were closed as stayCHILDREN MAY BE UNABLE TO EXPRESS THEIR at-home orders were implemented. Isolation from friends and extended family members FEELINGS AND NOT KNOW HOW OR WHERE TO GET affected their mental health. Children, who HELP. EDUCATING PARENTS AND THE COMMUNITY need movement and exercise for their mental TO WATCH FOR CERTAIN BEHAVIORS IS THE FIRST well-being, suddenly could not go outside to play or access local parks and recreation cenSTEP IN LEARNING HOW TO ADDRESS THEIR ters. In addition, they were faced with food MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. insecurity as their parents’ places of employment and/or businesses had to close — some permanently. With over 6 million COVIDrelated deaths globally, many children lost one or more loved ones or friends. families. And as children and teens watched feelings Suicide rates have risen among adolescents, and many have lost their enthusi- of anxiety, fear and mood changes appear among their asm for the activities and pursuits that once interested them. Students, including parents, they reacted in kind. those who had maintained good grades prior to Covid, suffered academically as Unfortunately, due to the nationwide shortage of schools were forced to implement virtual learning. Fear of an uncertain future mental health professionals, children are dealing with also contributed to the decline of their mental health. High school graduates untreated mental health issues. The title of a recently found themselves unable to partake in the graduation experience they’d looked uploaded American Psychological Association article, forward to for so long. What should have been celebratory was replaced with “Children’s mental health is in crisis,” says it all. sadness and, for some new graduates, anger. Now more than ever, our Muslim communities As Muslims, Ramadan brings a sense of unity and enjoyment for families. need to provide training and education programs in With mosques having to close and families feeling disconnected from the umma our mosques and schools. Public schools in some areas during the holy month and Eid, this enforced isolation affected the mood of many have begun giving teachers mental health training 24
ISLAMIC HORIZONS JULY/AUGUST 2022
