Arab mental health: Challenges, strengths, and heroes
Challenges
Research on Arab communities is limited, so we have little information about the challenges and strengths specific to these groups. As a result, mental health services may not fully consider the cultural needs of Arab people, and it's not clear how Arab communities view mental health stigma.
Arab communities face challenges due to a lack of educational material in their language. This leads to unequal access to important resources. Additionally, there are few therapists of Arab descent in the U.S., which makes it hard for people to find a mental health provider who understands their language and culture. Therapists and mental health professionals need to educate themselves to better grasp the unique needs of Arab cultures.
Discrimination is a significant problem for Arab communities, causing a lot of stress. Young Muslims and women in these communities are most likely to be targeted because of their religion. People of Arab descent may face unfair beliefs that they are violent and anti-American. These misconceptions have even affected how Arab Americans are treated in the healthcare system, sometimes leading to their concerns being ignored and ultimately harming the mental health of Arab Americans
Arab Americans are more likely to be uninsured compared to non-Hispanic white people. This is due to financial challenges and difficulty navigating the healthcare system when immigrating to the United States.
Acculturative stress is the stress that comes from trying to be more like people from a different culture. For people of Arab descent who have immigrated to the U.S, this stress can increase the odds of developing depression. Acculturative stress is made worse by the unfair treatment that communities of Arab descent often experience.
Strength and resiliency factors
For many people of Arab descent, faith plays a key role in well-being. Both Muslim and Christian communities have strong connections to community mental health rooted within their religions.
Oftentimes people of Arab descent will seek out their faith leaders for guidance and support. For example, in Muslim communities, imams (religious leaders in Islam) play a crucial role in addressing various issues such as family problems, relationship issues, and the overall mental well-being of their community members. They are experienced in providing spiritual advice and support to those seeking help.
Prayer and reading sacred religious texts can also offer a source of comfort and healing that can work alongsidemedical interventions. Youth participation in organized religious activities is related to lower acculturative stress – the adjustment of coming into contact with and adjusting to another culture.
In communities of Arab descent, having a strong connection to one's culture is important and can help protect against stress from adapting to a new culture. Asking for support from their families is the most common way Arab Americans report seeking help. This also plays a significant role in strengthening their cultural identity. Loyalty to family members is highly valued, and family responsibilities may often be prioritized over individual needs. In these communities, a person's sense of honor and dignity is closely tied to their family. This collectivist mindset creates a supportive network for individuals of Arab descent.
Mental health heroes
Ally Salama is known as the Middle East’s mental health ambassador and has been listed on Forbes Middle East ‘30 Under 30.’ He began his mental health advocacy work as a teenager when he started a Facebook page called, “Break the Silence.” This was an anonymous page made for people of Egyptian descent to share what they were going through.This page quickly grew and gained tens of thousands of followers. He later created the mental health-focused magazine, EMPWR. This magazine focuses on mental health for people of Arab descent and breaking down stigma in this community. EMPWR was named one of Harvard University’s Top 7 Most Impactful Social Initiatives in 2019. His work has also been recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Federation for Mental Health. In addition, Salama is the host of the podcast, “Empathy Always Wins”, which is rated by Apple as the number one podcast in the Youth Leadership category. Salama’s work has had a powerful impact on many and continues to influence individuals, businesses, and government organizations alike.
Micheline Maalouf is a licensed mental health counselor and content creator whose social media networks have reached over 1.2 million people. She is also the owner and founder of Serein Counseling Services, where she and her colleagues provide anxiety and trauma treatment. As a Syrian/Lebanese immigrant to the U.S. at the age of 8, Maalouf struggled with feelings of displacement, loneliness, and a loss of identity. Her lived experience navigating these feelings led her to become a therapist herself. As someone who was diagnosed with ADHD and anxiety in adulthood, she feels passionate about raising awareness so others do not have to feel alone. In her social media posts, she often talks about the mental health stigma in her culture and ways she works against it. Her and her work have been featured in the New York Times, Vogue, Cosmopolitan and more. She has also partnered with organizations such as Better Help, Pure Leaf, and Johnson and Johnson to amplify their mental health-centered services and products. Maalouf’s passion for providing mental health education continues to support people worldwide.
Take a Mental Health Test
If you are struggling with your mental health, take an anonymous, free, and private mental health test. It only takes a few minutes, and after you are finished you will be given information about the next steps you can take based on the results.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. You can also reach Crisis Text Line by texting HELLO to 741741.