Conference focuses on mental health in CALD communities

The event was hosted by Mission of Hope, a not-for-profit charity organisation with a focus on health and community development and Islamic Sciences and Research Academy (ISRA), a platform for cooperation between Australian Muslims and educational institutions in Australia specifically offering courses in Islamic studies through Charles Sturt University (CSU).

The objectives of the conference included:

1. Share knowledge on multicultural mental health as it relates to Australian Muslims.
2. Increase awareness of the mental health issues facing Muslims and CALD clients, and the need for culturally and faith appropriate mental health and wellbeing resources and/or services.
   • To help raise the profile of mental wellbeing in this population group.
   • To decrease the stigma of mental illness within this population group.
   • To share and support evidence-based research.
   • To provide a platform for learning, discussion, support and facilitation.
   • To provide psychoeducation to the general public on mental health
   • topics in the context of spirituality and Islam.
3. To decrease the stigma of mental illness within Muslim and CALD communities.
4. To increase access to culturally and spiritually appropriate mental health resources to Muslim and CALD communities.

Jihad Dib.

The conference also included invited Muslim Community leaders and representatives including politicians. Mr Jihad Dib, State MP for Lakemba during his address commended the hosts for organising such a unique conference and how proud he was to see amazing development in the community with a diversity of activities and its reporting by AMUST  for the awareness amongst all Australians.

The conference on the first day started with a presentation by the invited international keynote speaker Dr Rania Awaad, Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the Stanford University School of Medicine and Executive Director, Co-Founder of Maristan, a holistic mental health nonprofit institution in US serving Muslim communities.

Dr Rania Awaad

Dr Awaad talked about her research into historical contribution of Muslims, specifically in diagnosis and treatment of mental health conditions, centuries before the development of this area of health management in the West.

She showcased through data and images the establishment of comprehensive health facilities called “Beemaristan” (anglicised as Meristan) or Dar-ul-Shafa or Shafa-Khan by Muslim physicians and authorities more than 700 years as hospitals treating patients for physical diseases as well as psychotherapy.

Hend Saab

Hend Saab, a senior Sydney based psychologist talked about her long experiences in the her field specifically Mindfulness in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities. She conducted a workshop session  involving the audience present in the practice of Mindfulness.

Dr Nooria Mehraby

Dr Nooria Mehraby, a senior clinician of Afghan origin gave brief history of the crisis in Afghanistan and described her long experience in working with STARTT supporting traumatised Afghan refugees in Australia.

Hanan Dover

Well known icon Hanan Dover, clinical and forensic psychologist talked on The impact of vicarious trauma among multicultural workers and community volunteers, and mitigating risk for service providers.

Tareq Ahmed, provisional psychologist and Ziyad Serhan, an experienced educator gave an emotionally charged presentation with alarming statistics on suicide and strategies in the prevention of suicide specifically amongst Muslim Youth.

Ziyad Serhan and Tareq Ahmed

The last presentation of the day was by Teguh Syahbahar, an AOD Clinician on culturally responsive drug and alcohol counselling for Muslim clients.

The second day of the conference started with a speech by national keynote speaker Associate Professor Salih Yucel, also aMuslim Chaplain based in Melbourne, with the topic “Islamic Chaplaincy in Australia: Challenges and Opportunities.”

Sheikh Bilal Dannoun, a popular Sydney based Marriage Celebrant talked on “Integrating Islamic Teachings and Modern-day Research When Counselling: A Holistic Approach.”

Dr Zuleyha Keskin.

Mostafa El-Gashingi, a Psychologist explored the topic as to how does Islamic law view mental iIllness through a workshop

Mariam Ardati, Muslim Chaplain and a Funeral Director conducted a workshop on ” The Other Side of the COVID Death Wave: A Case of Complicated Grieving in the Muslim Community.”

Ahmet Ozturk.

The conference concluded with two more workshops, “Effects of Pornography on Mental and Emotional Health” by Wael Ibrahim an Educator) and “Culturally Adapting an Evidence-based Mental Health Intervention for Muslims and Culturally Diverse Groups: Insights and Best Practices from Indonesia” by Ratih Arruum Listiyandini, a Clinician and Educator.

MC for the event.