Reflections on Recovery in Mental Health: Perspectives From a Muslim Culture

Abstract

This article describes the outcomes of research into how individuals with mental health problems at the National Centre of Mental Health in Jordan perceived the causes of their mental health problems, the coping strategies they employed, how they sought help, and how they experienced what is termed the process of recovery. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 male and 10 female patients diagnosed with a range of mental health problems. The research suggests that each person perceived recovery uniquely and that, for some, religion was viewed as being central to recovery. The research also suggests that social workers and other mental health professionals working with Muslim patients can better contribute to their recovery if they understand and respect the central role of these patients’ religious beliefs and “faith journeys.”

Keywords:

• Islam
• mental health
• recovery process
• religion and spirituality
• social work

Notes

1. Individuals who claim that they had some sort of supernatural ability and practice witchcraft and sorcery, to deal with the bad jinn or the spiritual powers, which are seen to be the source of mental health problems. This is a practice that is strictly forbidden in Islamic religion (Nawawi & Abbasi, 1980).