Mental Health
The writer, Hasnain Walji (Texas, USA) is an entrepreneur, investor, technologist, and community volunteer. Born in Moshi, Tanzania, he is a researcher, speaker, and writer involved in developing professional training and e-learning applications in nutrition and integrative healthcare. He is President of Integrative Quest, Inc which specializes in formulating and marketing probiotics. He has authored 26 books, all written from a naturopathic perspective, endorsed by the Natural Medicine Society of England, and translated into several languages including Spanish, French, German, Turkish, Hungarian, Portuguese, and Chinese. A contributor to several journals on environmental and Third World consumer issues, he was the founder and editor of The Vitamin Connection – an International Journal of Nutrition, Health and Fitness, and Healthy Eating. He has written a script for a six-part television series, The World of Vitamins. His institutional work for the Muslim community spans over 30 years, Since 1976 he has served the World Federation of KSI Muslim Communities, as Secretary-General, Vice-President, and then as President of this august body. He is also a founding director and the Current President of the Mulla Asgher Memorial Library and Resource Center (MARC) in Toronto. He has served as editor of Shia International and Living Islam Magazines and is a regular contributor to a number of Islamic Journals. He has traveled worldwide, lecturing and reciting Majlises in English, Urdu, and Gujarati. He has a special interest in the History of the Khojas and currently working on a Documentary called The Khojas – A journey of faith. He is also a founding director of a Social Justice Institute called Penmanship For Peace focusing on the plight of persecuted minorities including the Shia in Pakistan and part of a team compiling a volume on Shia Genocide in Pakistan. His passion is in increasing interfaith understanding to make this world a better place for his five grandchildren. Dr Walji established MARC. He served as the Secretary-General of WF. Dr Hasnian Walji served as the vice president of WF during Mullah’s leadership in the capacity of the president of the World Federation.
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et’s face it: mental health is a crisis we don’t talk about enough. Around the world, millions of people suffer in silence, trapped by fear, shame, or the weight of stigma. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), one in eight people globally—nearly one billion individuals—lives with a mental health disorder. Depression and anxiety alone cost the global economy over $1 trillion annually in lost productivity.¹ Among youth, the numbers are equally alarming: nearly 50% of mental health conditions begin by age 14, yet most cases go untreated.²
In many ethnic and immigrant communities, this silence can feel even heavier. Mental health struggles are often misunderstood, labeled as weakness, or swept under the rug as family secrets.
But here’s the truth: silence doesn’t heal. It doesn’t offer comfort or solutions. Silence isolates. It keeps people from reaching out and getting the help they deserve. And it’s up to us—each one of us—to break that silence.
Changing the Story
The barriers to seeking mental health support are real and complex. For some, it’s cultural beliefs that label mental illness as a personal failure. For others, it’s fear—fear of being judged, excluded, or seen as “less than.” These barriers don’t just delay care—they create cycles of pain and suffering that ripple through families and communities.
But we don’t have to stay stuck in this story.
At our center in Houston, we’ve worked proactively to rewrite the narrative. Through Mental Health First Aid workshops and Mentor Training Programs, we’ve equipped leaders, volunteers and teachers in our community to recognize the signs of struggle, to offer understanding, and to guide people toward the care they need. By extending these conversations into mosques, Madrasahs, and cultural organizations—places where trust already exists—we can open doors that were once tightly shut.
Mentors as Game-Changers
One of our most powerful tools has been training mentors to serve as first responders for mental health. These aren’t just programs—they’re lifelines. Mentors learn how to listen, how to help, and how to connect people to culturally sensitive care. They become the bridge between silence and support. (For information on setting up such workshops contact the contact the author)
I’ll never forget one mentor’s story. A young man battling depression reached out, and with the training we’d provided, the mentor knew how to help. They didn’t just talk; they took action—engaging the young man’s family and connecting him with a therapist who understood his background. That one act of support didn’t just change his life—it sent a powerful message to others: help is here, and it’s okay to ask for it.
Faith as a Source of Strength
In our communities, faith is a cornerstone of life. So instead of seeing spirituality and mental health as separate, we can bring them together. Across all faith traditions, spirituality has long been a source of comfort and resilience. Whether it’s the contemplative prayers in Christianity, the meditative practices in Buddhism, the grounding discipline of Salah in Islam, or the emphasis on inner peace in Hinduism, spirituality provides a framework for meaning and healing.
The teachings of Imam Zaynul Abidin (AS) and the heartfelt supplications of Sahifah al-Sajjadiya, amongst other duas by the Aimma (AS) remind us that struggles are an inherent part of the human journey, and spiritual practices can help us endure them with grace. When individuals connect to a higher power or reflect on life’s greater purpose, they often find a sense of hope and belonging. By integrating spirituality into mental health care, we not only honor cultural and religious values but also offer a holistic path to emotional and spiritual well-being.
Mosques and Madrasahs hold incredible potential to be spaces of understanding and care. Imagine hearing a Friday sermon that speaks openly about emotional well-being, or a Madrasah lesson that teaches students the importance of self-care. These aren’t just ideas—they’re ways to normalize the conversation. They’re ways to show that seeking help isn’t a sign of weakness, but of strength and self-awareness.
Globally, religious leaders are being recognized as critical allies in mental health advocacy. For instance, in Southeast Asia, community-based programs that integrate faith with mental health have seen a 30% improvement in treatment adherence. ³
A Community Effort
Here’s the beautiful thing: when one person speaks up, others feel empowered to do the same. Our training programs in Houston have sparked change, not just in individuals, but across entire communities. Families are opening up. Leaders are stepping forward. Conversations that once felt impossible are now happening in living rooms and town halls.
What Can You Do?
The work doesn’t end here. If we’re going to break the stigma around mental health, we need everyone to step up.
- Learn: Educate yourself about mental health and share what you know.
- Listen: Be the kind of friend who listens without judgment.
- Support: Volunteer, donate, or advocate for mental health initiatives.
- Speak: Start conversations in your family and community.
Time to Act
Let’s be clear: breaking the stigma around mental health isn’t just a task for professionals. It’s a shared responsibility. Each one of us has the power to create a world where seeking help is a sign of courage—not weakness.
So let’s start today. Let’s open our hearts, our minds, and our communities. Let’s build a culture where no one feels alone, and where asking for help is met with understanding, not judgment.
Together, we can end the silence. Together, we can heal. Let’s begin.
Endnotes
- World Health Organization, Mental Health and Substance Use (2023), https://www.who.int/health-topics/mental-health#tab=tab_1.
- Ronald C. Kessler et al., “Age of Onset of Mental Disorders: A Review of Recent Literature,” Current Opinion in Psychiatry 20, no. 4 (2007): 359–364.
- Vikram Patel et al., “Addressing the Burden of Mental, Neurological, and Substance Use Disorders: Key Messages from Disease Control Priorities, 3rd Edition,” The Lancet 387, no. 10028 (2016): 1672–1685.
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