A Forgotten Legacy

Centuries ago, the Muslim world was at the forefront of emotional intelligence and holistic healing. Institutions like the maristan pioneered psychiatry and psychology, blending faith with science to nurture both body and soul (https://maristan.org/about-us).  Yet today the same ummah (Muslim communities) have some of the poorest outcomes in mental health. (https://www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk/publications/fact-sheet-muslim-mental-health) (https://muslimsportsfoundation.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/2025-Mind-Survey.pdf).

 Plagued with stigma, taboo and denial in our families and communities so much so that approximately one in three young Muslims turn to nobody when they experience depression, a recent study of British young Muslims found. (https://myh.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/MYH-Research-Report-Muslim-Youth-Whats-the-Issue-1-2.pdf)

This painful reality is how the Vision for the Mindsavers programme began…

Rediscovering the Tools We Already Have

The Quran and Sunnah are filled with guidance. The challenge is not a lack of tools, but reclaiming them and learning how to apply them in today’s context.

Allow me to give you a flavour of the Mindsavers programme and how you can start implementing it into your life from today to make a positive change.  And allow me to share a family story of healing after implementing the ‘5 pillars to a better mental health’.

 What is the Mindsavers Programme?

Mindsavers is an interactive workshop designed with input from:

• People with lived experience
• Mental health specialists and doctors
• Academics and imams

Delivered in mosques and community spaces, the workshop allows participants to explore key concepts of mental health, practice wellbeing techniques, and engage in open conversations — all within a safe, welcoming environment (and yes, with refreshments!).

The journey begins by laying the foundations about what is balanced well-being, and how this can be viewed from an Islamic lens.

It then unfolds into five powerful pillars

Want to have a sneak peek of these pillars? Read on…

Pillar One:  ‘It Is OKAY Not To Be Okay’

The first step is simple and profound: acknowledging how you are feeling. When was the last time you took a moment to ask yourself ‘how am I feeling?’ and use words to describe it.

Take a moment, now, to do this.

Those who have done this before; how often have you felt ‘guilty’ for the way you are feeling; “why am I feeling so sad when I have so much I should be grateful for?”.

If you had a cold, what would you do?  Would you feel guilty about it? No.

You would rest, hydrate yourself with fluids, drink warm honey lemon and hopefully you’re not thinking about rushing to A&E!

What if you fell and broke your leg, what would you do then?

I’m hoping you might be thinking of rushing to A&E in this case!

Mental health deserves the same compassion. You must first acknowledge it, whether it is a minor emotional strain or a serious psychological injury, and then take the appropriate steps to treat it. Sometimes this means self-care; sometimes seeking professional help is essential.

In the subsequent pillars of the programme: 

• We discuss what are some common mental health symptoms, 
• We share and learn different types of self-help and how that’s linked to faith, 
• We explore the NHS five ways to wellbeing, (https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/self-help/guides-tools-and-activities/five-steps-to-mental-wellbeing). 
• and we explore the importance and etiquettes of making Dua (supplication).

https://www.good-thinking.uk/faith-and-belief-communities/islam

Pillar Five: ‘Messengers and Prophets as role models’

Consider the moment when the Prophet Muhammad [Peace Be Upon Him (PBUH)] held his beloved son, Ibrahim, as he passed away in his arms. The Prophet (PBUH) cried, and when questioned, he cried more and replied:

“The eyes are shedding tears and the heart is grieved, and we will not say except what pleases our Lord’’

[Sahih Al – Bukari 1303]

What can we learn from this?

Is it wrong to have grief and sadness in your hearts?

Is it wrong to cry with emotional pain?

No, of course not. Grief, sadness, and emotional pain are not signs of weak faith. The best of Mankind experienced this. The key is how we respond in these situations, in a way that you don’t give up hope in Allah (SWT).

 (To discover the other three pillars AND what they ‘become’ when you put them all together, join a live workshop!)

Practical Wellbeing Techniques

Workshops also introduce a variety of wellbeing techniques and  we practice some of them in small groups. 

One of these is using an ‘Akhirah- focused’ goal setting model.  Research shows that if you plan your goals in a way where you anticipate the obstacles you may face, you are more likely to achieve your goal. We use the WOOP model (https://woopmylife.org), a powerful psychological framework, and apply it through a faith-aligned lens.

Allow yourself to spend a minute, yes just 60 seconds, now. Give this model a go, using a goal that you would like to achieve.

A story of family healing

Mrs Khan* is a 72 year old Pakistani lady troubled with many physical symptoms throughout her life including shortness of breath, headaches, dizziness and palpitations. She had planned to attend the Mindsavers workshop at her local mosque but was about to cancel as she had unexpected relatives coming to visit from out of town. She was encouraged by a family member to bring her relatives along, which they indeed did! She attended and engaged well, the small group was facilitated in Urdu, her main language. 

She thoroughly enjoyed the workshop and for the first time in her life, at the age of 72, she understood how her symptoms could be linked to anxiety. The breathing techniques taught at the workshop gave her relief. More importantly, her family, who attended with her, began reminding her of the psychological connection whenever symptoms returned. 

Since then she has not only come to acknowledge that her symptoms can be anxiety related, which is a huge milestone in itself, but the support and shared understanding in the family and the practical self-help tools has improved her quality of life in a beautiful example of family healing.

Conclusion: Flipping the Narrative

It’s time to break the silence, to move away from the stigma and the taboo, and the poor mental health outcomes in our communities. It’s time to embrace and revive our heritage to build an emotionally-balanced, thriving ummah; helping ourselves and supporting one another.

So ask yourself:

• How are you going to implement the ‘Five Pillars’ to improve your mental health?
•  What will you do from today to kickstart your well-being journey? 

So you can start the change that you want to see in the world…

*Anonymised name