麻豆约拍

Azim Ahmed looks into some of the issues affecting mental wellbeing among the Muslim community in Wales and beyond.

Whilst younger people might now be well versed in the language and lexicon of mental health, some older people may struggle to find the words to describe their mental state. In some cases, faith can be a balm for the troubled mind, but there are cases where certain religious beliefs can actually make things harder - beliefs such as attributing mental illness to the 'evil eye' or even demonic possession, for example.

Attitudes are changing, but research suggests a need for sensitivity among health professionals in understanding the cultural backgrounds of some Muslim patients. And among Muslims, there's comfort in the example of the Prophet Mahommed himself, who evidently also experienced periods of low mood and anxiety, and yet was unafraid to express his feelings.