May 6th, 2021 comments
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. With the ongoing pandemic, worrisome situations locally as well as in other countries where loved ones are suffering can be difficult for many. Mental well-being can be affected and needs to be monitored and looked after. Feeling anxious, sad, frustrated or suicidal can affect us in the short-term and long-term.
Knowing that you need help and learning where to get help is important for newcomers and immigrants. Traditional supports such as family, friends, religious/spiritual leaders in home countries may no longer be available having moved to a new country. In addition, barriers such as language, culture and preoccupation with immediate needs such as income, housing, jobs and schools could have come in the way of fostering new community connections, or finding out about resources available and seeking help.
Dr Daniel Andreae selected as Top Health Advocate and Health Educator of the Decade by IAOTP prunderground.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from prunderground.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Author of the article: Jonathan Juha
Publishing date: Jan 18, 2021 • January 18, 2021 • 2 minute read Siham Elkassem, a social worker who graduated from King’s University College, completed a study that found a lack of understanding over cultural differences is a key barrier for members of the Muslim community seeking help for substance abuse. (Supplied)
Article content
Lack of understanding of cultural differences is a major barrier to London Muslims seeking help for substance abuse, a doctoral candidate’s research has found.
“Many of the services across the board don’t truly understand the context of Muslim people’s lives and I think it’s important to draw attention to that,” said Siham Elkassem, a King’s University College social work graduate who led the research project looking at substance use and misuse among Muslims.