Muslim Youth Helpline (MYH) calls on people to reach out for help during the crisis. Islamic Relief UK and MYH also urge the Muslim community to be more aware of mental health and to support the helpline with its crucial work.
The Muslim Youth Helpline, which provides pioneering faith and culturally sensitive services to Muslim youth in the UK, has seen a staggering rise in calls relating to mental health and suicidal thoughts during the Covid-19 crisis.
The helpline has seen a 313% rise in calls since March 2020. Helpline officers have answered calls from many young people struggling with suicidal thoughts, depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and religious guilt. As the crisis continues, Islamic Relief UK has offered to support the award-winning charity with funding of £30,000 to ensure that the work continues and all calls to the helpline are answered.
People can access support from Muslim Youth Helpline by calling 0808 808 2008 or going to their website, myh.org.uk
Many families in the Muslim community are not recognising the seriousness of mental health issues, which can worsen the situation for the many who are suffering.One anonymous caller to the helpline said: “I’ve been struggling with depression and anxiety. Every time I try to speak with my parents about it, they think it has to do with faith as they do not believe in mental illness. I’m not sure what to do.”
According to recent research in the International Journal for the Psychology of Religion (1), Muslims in the UK are less inclined, compared to other religious groups, to seek mental health services because they highlight a preference for help with a religious underpinning. A poll was also conducted by Muslim Youth Helpline which showed 40.2% of Muslim men said they talked to nobody about mental health (2).
The Covid-19 crisis has exacerbated people’s mental health and the helpline has also reported an unprecedented rise in calls on anxiety and panic attacks.
Another anonymous caller said:
“I’ve been struggling with lockdown and being inside all the time. I’m scared to go outside, even just in my neighbourhood for a walk as I’m scared to run into people. I’m scared living like this will keep making my anxiety worse.”
“I’ve been feeling suicidal, but do not want to go through with it because of my faith. I’ve been self-harming instead to deal with my feelings. I feel stuck, and don’t know what the next step for me should be.”
Maaria Mahmood, Director of Muslim Youth Helpline, said:
“Since the beginning of lockdown, our primary concerns on the helpline have been on faith and spirituality, family issues, suicidal thoughts, depression, and anxiety due to long periods of staying at home and fear of losing jobs and opportunities. On average, around 10% of our calls each month relate to suicide/suicidal thoughts.
“At MYH, we quickly adapted to working from home to cater and answer calls for support. Our helpline officers have gone above and beyond to make sure the helpline ran during the lockdown, by opening their homes and taking calls from their living rooms and bedrooms.
“We continue to answer enquiries from young people who are feeling the lockdown’s weight. The pandemic has gravely impacted our community, and we have a task ahead to address the concerns that have been brought to the surface and right all the wrongs experienced. MYH is ready to continue to support the community through our helpline.
“We have been working hard to answer our growing number of calls. We urgently need support and funding to continue our work.”
Tufail Hussain, Director of Islamic Relief UK, said:
“It is truly alarming that so many people are struggling with mental health issues and we need to do everything we can to support the vital work of MYH.
“Muslims always turn to God for help during difficult times, but our faith also teaches us to seek help from others as well and it is vital for us to get help from the crucial services that are available for our mental health.
“We must come together as a community and try to address these issues to help young people. We must recognise that mental health is a serious issue and cannot be ignored. The Covid-19 crisis is worsening the situation and I also call on others to help and support the important work of MYH.”
Ends
Notes to editors
For more information or to arrange an interview with a spokesperson, please contact Jonaid Jilani on 07872403534 or Jonaid.jilani@islamic-relief.org.uk
If you, or someone you know is in difficulty, you can access support from Muslim Youth Helpline by calling 0808 808 2008 or you can get to their website, myh.org.uk
(1) Hooman Keshavarzi and Amber Haque, “Outlining a Psychotherapy Model for Enhancing Muslim Mental Health Within an Islamic Context,” The International Journal for the Psychology of Religion 23:3 (2012): 1, accessed April 22, 2018, doi:10.1080/10508619.2012.712000
(2) In 2019, Muslim Youth Helpline released a report “MUSLIM YOUTH: What’s the issue”, which did a poll on Muslims and mental health.
About Islamic Relief
Islamic Relief is a faith-inspired, development and humanitarian agency working to transform and save the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in over 40 countries. Islamic Relief assists people according to need and does not discriminate in any way.
Set up in Birmingham in 1984 by a group of volunteers, we have assisted over 117 million people all over the world. We’re saving lives and empowering people to lift themselves out of poverty in over 40 countries – from Bangladesh to Bosnia, Pakistan to Palestine, Kenya to Kosovo. Islamic Relief is on the ground in some of the world’s most dangerous and difficult places – including Syria and Yemen – strengthening the most marginalised communities to withstand conflict and natural disasters and to build a brighter future. We also support vulnerable people in the UK in partnership with local charities and organisations.
About Muslim Youth Helpline
Muslim Youth Helpline (MYH) is a 19-year-old charity and a listening helpline that provides free and confidential faith and culturally-sensitive support services targeted at vulnerable young people in the United Kingdom. People can contact us by phone, email or web chat. We are open six hours a day from 4pm – 10pm, every single day.
Mohammed Mamdani set up the Muslim Youth Helpline in 2001 to provide young British Muslims with advice and support that is sensitive to their culture and religion.
Mohammed, who was 18 at the time, felt that there was very little support for the young Muslim community. He got together with a couple of friends at college and they ran the helpline from Mohammed’s bedroom for a few hours each week.
We’ve come a long way since then, some things have changed, others have stayed the same. We stay true to the values which he instilled — ‘confidential’ and ‘non-judgmental’. Since our launch, MYH has supported over 55,000 young Muslims.
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