最准的六合彩论坛

In this project, Citizen Scientist Maysa Mohamoud explores the metal health challenges for Muslim women in North Kensington.

Introduction

There are just under 20,000聽Muslims living in the borough聽of Kensington and Chelsea聽and Muslim women make up聽a fairly large portion of North聽Kensington鈥檚 population聽itself. Unfortunately, in many聽communities, mental health is a聽very taboo subject with a stigma聽around it. The impact of the聽Grenfell fire, for example, was聽felt by the entire local area, and聽leaves the Muslim community聽heartbroken to this day. 70% of聽those who lived in the tower聽were Muslim and just over聽54% of those who passed聽away were Muslims, showing聽how expansive that network聽of grief is in a community that聽stigmatise mental wellbeing聽and view it as a weakness.聽Through this project, I set out to聽explore what mental well-being聽services there are available, if聽there are enough, and how they聽benefit the Muslim community,聽specifically Muslim women.聽

I conducted interviews with聽the professionals in North聽Kensington鈥檚 mental well-being聽spaces. I asked the professionals聽about access to mental聽well-being support in North聽Kensington and how Muslim聽women feel talking about聽their own mental well-being.聽We also discussed the stigma聽surrounding mental health聽and questioned whether there聽are enough spaces for Muslim聽women to seek help and how聽to make more of these women聽open to actively improving their聽mental well-being.聽

As mental well-being is an聽extremely intimate and personal聽topic, I decided to interview聽Muslim women in pairs or聽groups with other women聽that they were comfortable聽with. I wanted there to be an聽overarching theme of support,聽sisterhood. Sisters by religion聽yet also sisters in the literal聽sense; women who have spent聽their lives together in North聽Kensington; sisters 鈥榖y blood鈥� or聽sisters 鈥榖y friendship鈥�, who have聽supported each other in life and聽are comfortable sharing their thoughts and experiences.I kept hand-written notes聽instead of audio-recording聽the interviews. I wanted the聽interviews to be as relaxed聽and casual as possible so聽that the women would feel聽more comfortable speaking聽their minds. The women I聽interviewed spoke eloquently聽about their understandings聽and experiences of mental well-being and impressions of mental聽health services. In this zine, as聽much as possible, I present their聽ideas in their own words.

Mental health services for Muslim women

There are, in fact, several helpful聽mental health services for Muslim聽women. The most profound barriers聽to better mental health for the聽community is not lack of accessibility,聽but lies rather in Muslim women聽themselves. There is a mutual fear聽and shame surrounding getting help聽and many of the women I interviewed聽reinforced this school of thought. All聽the women expressed a deep longing聽to have mental health as a subject聽that they can talk about more openly聽in their circles and communities.聽The professionals too voiced that聽Muslim women in the area have so聽many places to go to but not enough聽women are open to the idea, as the聽irrational fears felt by the community聽have unfortunately stigmatised these聽mental health services.

After Grenfell a lot of Muslim women sought help, but when they started therapy and asked if they would rather do it in their mother tongue, they asked for a 'white woman' - out of fear that them seeking help would go back into the community.鈥� -聽 Michelle

Opening up to a friend sometimes means opening up to the whole community. There's a general lack of awareness when it comes to these things.鈥� - Zohra

You need to feel like you're understood and can be related to, to have that confidence that you can be helped. To understand what it's like to be an ethnic minority in Britain, what it's like to be a woman, a Muslim woman. To know how we feel.鈥� -聽 Hafsa

They might also feel like they can鈥檛聽trust anyone with these personal聽issues on their mind that they鈥檝e聽never opened up to anyone about聽before.鈥� - Nadia

It鈥檚 difficult to know what therapy聽is and all without going out of your聽way to do research. 拢100 per hour聽for therapy? It鈥檚 never that deep, I鈥檒l聽just keep it stepping *laughs*.鈥� - Nasteexo

Interpretations of mental health

Another prevalent theme in the聽interviews, especially with the聽older generation, was the inability聽to correctly define mental wellbeing itself. There is an immense聽misconception that mental health is聽not as vital as physical health, that聽the services available will not be聽beneficial, and that mental health聽support is not for everyone. Initially,聽the older group of participants聽misinterpreted mental health to聽indicate a serious mental condition聽such as schizophrenia, Bipolar聽disorder and so on. They did not聽recognise that they themselves, like聽everyone else, need to care for their聽mental well-being as much as their聽physical, at least in the early stages聽of the interview. The professionals聽also asserted this in their interviews,聽mentioning that misinformation聽within the community is a vital piece聽in the puzzle in the discussion as to聽why many Muslim women disregard their mental well-being.

鈥�Our generation of older parents worry about聽 how to raise our children. Britain isn鈥檛 where聽 most of us were raised and we don鈥檛 know what聽 it鈥檚 like for our kids and what challenges they聽 face as children of immigrants. No one worries聽 about themselves, we鈥檙e always thinking about聽 those around us. Some of us might compare聽 their family dynamics to the traditional white聽 British family and the idea of a 鈥榩erfect mum鈥� in聽 a place where we have no idea what childhood聽 looks like. People parent the way they are聽 parented, both mothers and fathers need to be聽 willing to change but it frightens a lot of people聽 to deny how you were raised and what you were聽 taught to be right聽 from wrong.鈥� - Zohra

There鈥檚 a clear, clear relationship聽between faith and mental health聽- it鈥檚 symbiotic even. The older聽generation are misinformed on聽mental health, it鈥檚 not their fault聽because it鈥檚 something that鈥檚 more聽recognised globally in all societies聽and cultures.鈥� - Mumtaz

They grow up not knowing how to聽look after themselves mentally.鈥� - Nasteexo

Having Sabr (patience) in Islam聽is an act of worship. But there鈥檚 a聽difference between being patient聽and sitting in it, not doing anything聽to better yourself. You can still have聽Sabr, trust in Allah and do your聽best.鈥� - Balqees

In our generation, I think that聽these women feel like mental health聽is not for everyone.鈥� - Nadia

Most people think going to聽these places are for the 鈥渃razy鈥� or聽鈥渕entally sick鈥� people.鈥� - Zohra

Many people have trouble naming聽their emotions, and because of this聽stigma, they simply end up thinking聽that they are just 鈥榤ad鈥� for feeling聽these complex emotions.鈥� - Nacera

鈥淭here鈥檚 no code of conduct on how聽to deal with our problems because聽it鈥檚 not in our culture.鈥� - Zohra

Availability and diversity of services聽

Despite the multitude of services聽available here, the general consensus聽is that Muslim women do not have聽enough spaces in the area. There are,聽and in fact they reach full capacity:聽Al-Manaar mosque here in North聽Kensington, the community centres聽for the different ethnicities here such聽as Midaye and Al Hasaniya, and聽Community Living Well at St. Charles聽Hospital. These are just some of the聽places Muslim women are welcomed聽to use.

The participants expressed聽that they, as well as those in their聽circles, are unaware of the various聽forms of support available, or do not聽want to know in the first place, as聽the stigma still remains. Six years聽after the Grenfell fire, are to this day聽accepting help and actively seeking聽it through therapy now that mental聽well-being is becoming less taboo, but聽the taboo has not completely gone.

鈥�鈥淲e offer gardening, walks, day聽 trips, even here at Al-Manaar we聽 have the 鈥楰itchen Hub鈥�, where聽 Muslim women can cook together聽 and eat together. So many people聽 in North Kensington come here for聽 counselling and the mental well-being activities offered in so many聽 languages like Arabic, English and聽 French. They can go through their聽 trauma together and build their聽 resilience together.鈥� - Nacera

鈥淔rom what I know, there are so聽many places that offer support and聽reach full capacity. There can always聽be more of anything, but at the聽moment there are so many services聽here for Muslim women to get聽emotional support no matter how聽unique their situations may be.鈥� - Michelle

Dealing with different pressures

Another point to mention is that a聽common worry that Muslim women聽had was assimilation into British聽culture, workspace and healthcare聽system. They also struggled聽balancing their own lives and looking聽after their mental well-being.

North Kensington is already many聽 people鈥檚 second home from all聽 around the world, the only home聽 for a lot of them even. It鈥檚 hard to聽 really feel at home when the area聽 is undergoing mass gentrification;聽 the disparity becomes even more聽 apparent.鈥� - Nasteexo

I鈥檝e been searching on the NHS聽directory for a Black Muslim Female聽therapist, someone who is just like聽me and will understand me, but聽there wasn鈥檛 a single one when I聽looked through it. A white male聽therapist will never be able to fully聽understand me because we have lived very different lives.鈥� - Mumtaz

Feeling conscious about how聽we dress as we鈥檙e easy to identify聽as Muslimahs (Muslim women)鈥�.聽Sometimes, you can鈥檛 help but think聽that is all someone sees - 鈥榡ust your聽hijab鈥�. It鈥檚 a blessing and I am proud聽of it and who I am, but you can鈥檛聽help thinking about it sometimes.聽I don鈥檛 want to feel like I鈥檓 鈥榡ust聽another Muslim鈥� when I鈥檓 giving a聽complaint at a store. Islamophobia is聽frightening.鈥� - Nadia

It鈥檚 universally known that聽immigrants have to overcompensate聽to compete with their White聽counterparts. We feel as though you聽have to do your best to fit in. Life聽nowadays is so system-driven and聽people tend to get caught up on how聽to look, act and speak.鈥� - Aasiya聽

Settling in somewhere that you聽already know is not where you鈥檙e聽originally from is not easy at all.聽Even though there are so many聽things out there, you can鈥檛 help but聽think that it just isn鈥檛 for you.鈥� - Hafsa

These women often have a lot of聽 responsibilities at home - some may be聽 single mothers or the parent who primarily聽 takes care of the household and children.聽 Many Muslim women are thinking about聽 their children, and so are open to work聽 on their mental health so their children聽 don鈥檛 suffer as a consequence. This is all so聽 that they can build and maintain healthy,聽 strong relationships with those who they聽 love in mind.鈥�

Do your best to explore out of your聽comfort zone. Go to the workshops聽 and don鈥檛 be afraid to ask 鈥榳hat is聽 counselling?鈥� And learn about it.聽 Learn about yourself bit by bit with聽 a professional. Your concerns are聽 kept safe with us. Although it is聽 scary, there is no shame in looking聽 after yourself mentally. There are聽 so many other Muslim women who聽 you will meet and relate to and grow聽 with - you are not alone.鈥� - Nacera

There has been a lot of progress聽in my 12 years of experience in聽the field, but if we compare that聽 progress to other groups like, it聽 hasn鈥檛 progressed at the same聽rate at all. There are still so many聽 opportunities, workshops and聽sessions in our local area for Muslim聽 women, in a professional community聽setting that are made with all the聽 challenges and worries Muslim聽women may have in mind.鈥� - Michelle

鈥�Behaviour and mindset in our聽generation needs to be changed. The聽women in our communities need聽to tackle the stigma surrounding聽 mental health. It shouldn鈥檛 be taboo.聽We need to voice our concerns, if聽not with professionals then at least聽 those close to us.鈥� - Zohra

Having a therapist or counsellor聽who you can book a slot with聽 when you鈥檙e having a bad week, no聽 consultation or diagnosis, would聽 help so many women who cannot聽 commit to regular sessions because聽 they are working mothers鈥� - Aasiya聽

A hub for Muslim women other聽than the mosque, regardless聽 of ethnic background and age.聽Somewhere we can meet each other,聽have events and exercise together.聽The biggest barrier in terms of聽exercising and looking after our聽physical health is modesty after all.鈥� - Hafsa

鈥�Anything educating people on聽 what mental well-being is itself聽 and raising awareness on the聽 significance of not neglecting it.聽Mental well-being services for聽women going through menopause!聽 Women are really struggling and聽 have no clue how to deal with it聽 emotionally and mentally.鈥� - Nadia

鈥�So many Muslim women of all ages are willing聽to learn, it鈥檚 just a matter of raising awareness聽 and teaching them, and advertising effectively.聽 Investing in their marketing. Education is聽so key, educating people that taking care of聽your mental health is good and a part of faith聽 too. A collaboration between mental health聽 professionals or training Muslim women to聽 become them, this should happen in all underrepresented groups so everyone can be seen,聽heard and understood.鈥� - Balquees

Creating a mental health initiate for younger聽 Muslim women so they have the tools and聽 resources to look after themselves and the聽 successive generations to come - break that聽 continuous cycle of generational trauma. Setting聽 up playful, fun and exciting environments for聽us: sports, baking, arts and crafts, a book club聽even - so we don鈥檛 have to spend loads of money聽 just to de-stress and enjoy ourselves with other聽women.鈥� - Mumtaz

鈥�Having girl鈥檚 coffee mornings, evenings, game聽and quiz nights at our community centres and聽 mosques just for Muslim girls. It will build such聽 a strong network for the girls who were raised聽here. They need as much exposure as possible: hire a professional to keep websites up to date聽 and easy to use, post on social media accounts on聽different platforms, create brochures and post聽 them wherever they can - make sure no one is聽left behind.鈥� - Nasteexo

Conclusion

Being the community I am most聽familiar with, Muslim women is just聽one of many groups that I decided聽to focus on. There are many other聽ethnicities, age groups and genders聽that feel under-represented in the聽mental well-being space. This really聽echoes the fact that overall, we need聽to cater to all. Starting by removing聽the stigma and eventually having聽spaces and activities that appeal to聽everyone so that everyone鈥檚 mental聽health can be a priority like it truly聽should be.聽

About the Good Life in North Kensington

The Good Life in North Kensington brings together a team聽of residents to explore what a 鈥榞ood life鈥� means for people in聽North Kensington, London, and what some of the barriers聽are to achieving it. In 2023, seven local residents became聽鈥榗itizen social scientists鈥� and carried out their own research聽projects, investigating issues which matter to them and their聽communities.聽They have been trained and supported by 最准的六合彩论坛聽Citizen聽Science Academy, based at the Institute for Global Prosperity,聽in collaboration with the University of Manchester and the聽Westway Trust. They have since been awarded the Citizen聽Science Certificate by the 最准的六合彩论坛 Office for Open Science and are聽now working with local organisations to help ensure citizen聽voices are part of decision-making processes.聽

The Good Life North Kensington is part of a larger project聽on rethinking neighbourhood change and urban futures in聽the aftermath of housing tragedies. The project is led by Dr聽Constance Smith (University of Manchester) as part of a UKRI聽Future Leaders Fellowship.聽