In India, Muslims face unique challenges when seeking mental health care, as social stigma, a shortage of qualified professionals, and a lack of understanding of their religious and cultural needs complicate their access to essential services. Mental health professionals often fail to provide the necessary support, as Muslim clients navigate their way through a system that frequently misunderstands or marginalizes their identity.
One such individual is Sana, a 32-year-old development practitioner who has sought help from over a dozen mental health professionals. While she does not consider herself a particularly religious person, her Muslim identity has led to hostile conversations and discriminatory treatment during therapy sessions. Despite being educated and fluent in English, Sana found herself subjected to offensive remarks based on deep-rooted biases against Muslims.
“I am a Muslim, but I don’t look or sound like the stereotypical Muslim. I’m educated, speak fluent English, and at one point had brightly colored hair,” Sana explains. “Yet, things said to me were often offensive, rooted in biases against Muslims.”
One particularly distressing experience occurred at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi, where a psychiatrist told her that he needed to flag the potential side-effects of a medication for pregnant women, specifically because “you people [Muslims] have many children.”
“I picked up the prescription and never went back,” she said, underscoring the significant barriers Muslims face when trying to access mental health care in India.
The Invisible Struggles of Indian Muslims’ Mental Health
Sana’s experience is not an anomaly. Muslims in India face a variety of challenges when seeking mental health care, and the broader mental health needs of this community are often overlooked or dismissed. According to a 2022 report by the Bebaak Collective, a coalition of women’s groups, the mental health of Indian Muslims is severely underrepresented in Indian mental health research and literature. This gap reflects broader societal neglect of the mental health challenges faced by marginalized groups, including Muslims.
A report by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare in 2023 revealed a significant shortage of mental health professionals in India. With only 2,840 accredited clinical psychologists in the country, the number of professionals available to support a population of over 1.4 billion is staggeringly low. Additionally, there is no data on the religious or sociocultural backgrounds of these professionals, meaning the specific needs of Muslim patients are rarely considered.
Increased Mental Health Vulnerabilities Among Muslims
Studies have shown that Muslims in India experience higher levels of anxiety and mental health struggles compared to other religious groups. A report during the COVID-19 pandemic found that Muslims were at a significantly higher risk of developing anxiety compared to Hindus. This was linked to sociocultural adversities, including discrimination and marginalization.
A 2020 study found that Muslims and Dalits—members of India’s lowest caste group—reported worse mental health outcomes than upper-caste Hindus, even after accounting for factors like education and socioeconomic status. This data further highlights the compounded challenges Muslims face in terms of both mental health and social exclusion.
Challenges in Accessing Mental Health Care
The shortage of mental health professionals, combined with the high cost of therapy, social stigma, and lack of awareness, makes accessing mental health services difficult for many Indians. The World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines recommend a minimum of three psychiatrists per 100,000 people, but India falls drastically short with just 0.3 psychiatrists for every 100,000 individuals.
While the stigma surrounding therapy has somewhat diminished in urban, educated communities, the lack of therapists and the high cost of care remain major barriers. For urban and educated Muslims, the challenge is even greater. Many are pressured to seek help within a religious framework, often from religious leaders or scholars, which may not always address their mental health needs effectively. When they do turn to secular therapists, they may encounter professionals who lack the cultural sensitivity or understanding to address the specific needs of Muslim clients.
Faizan, a 29-year-old man who has been seeing therapists since 2015, recalls that in his family, mental health is only acknowledged in extreme cases. “The approach is always to rely on God,” Faizan said, reflecting the cultural expectation that faith alone should address mental health issues. For many Muslims, mental health concerns are often stigmatized, and seeking therapy is considered taboo unless the situation is dire.
Religious Sensitivity in Mental Health Care
Zeba, a 26-year-old journalist based in New Delhi, struggled to find a therapist who could understand the religious dimensions of her mental health challenges. She sought therapy after experiencing guilt related to a premarital relationship, which is forbidden in Islam. However, her therapist struggled to address the religious aspect of her distress.
“I wanted someone to understand my relationship with God and help me figure out if I was being manipulated in the name of religion,” Zeba said. After facing this limitation, she began looking for a Muslim therapist who could provide the cultural and religious understanding she needed.
This reflects the increasing recognition that mental health therapy should integrate religious and spiritual beliefs, particularly when these beliefs play a significant role in a person’s worldview. Recently, mental health experts have been exploring the benefits of incorporating religious frameworks into therapeutic practices, an approach called Religiously Integrated Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). This method has been developed for various religious traditions, including Islam, and aims to tailor therapy to the cultural and religious needs of the individual.
Integrating Religion and Spirituality into Therapy
Research has shown that religion can play a protective role in mental health, especially among young Muslims. Shaheena Parveen, a psychologist from Kashmir, found that religiosity had a positive impact on mental health outcomes for Muslim youth. Similarly, Muslim mental health scholars in the U.S. have developed a form of therapy called Traditional Islamically Integrated Psychotherapy, which combines Islamic principles with modern psychological practices. This form of therapy is approved by the American Psychological Association and has been shown to be effective in addressing the unique needs of Muslim clients.
Ayesha Hussain, a psychologist based in Delhi, stresses that therapists must be culturally informed and sensitive to the religious beliefs of their clients. While having a Muslim therapist may be beneficial for some, it is not always necessary. “Sometimes, clients might fear judgment and hesitate to share things they consider ‘un-Islamic’ with a Muslim therapist,” Hussain explained. Therefore, a broader understanding of sociocultural issues is crucial for effective therapy.
Pooja Priyamvada, a mental health researcher, notes that while religion can sometimes perpetuate harmful myths about mental health, it can also provide comfort and hope. “Religious beliefs can bring hope,” she said, “but they can also perpetuate misconceptions about mental illness.”
Conclusion
Muslims in India face unique challenges in accessing mental health care, due to a combination of cultural stigma, religious biases, and a shortage of qualified professionals. The lack of culturally sensitive therapy options makes it even harder for Muslim individuals to find the support they need. As mental health professionals increasingly explore ways to integrate religious and cultural considerations into therapy, there is hope that more Muslims will be able to receive care that respects their identity while addressing their mental health needs.
The growing awareness of these issues is a step toward creating a more inclusive mental health system that acknowledges and addresses the specific challenges faced by marginalized communities in India. However, much work remains to be done to ensure that Muslims, and other minority groups, have equitable access to the care they need.
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