Institute for Muslim Mental Health Canada

Community Care Kit

Nov 13, 2023

In the Name of Allah Most Compassionate, Most Merciful                                     --------------------------------------------------------------------


Acknowledgement and

Strategy Moving Forward

We are all in pain, grieving and hurting, for the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza. The frustration and helplessness we feel are normal reactions to this heartbreaking situation. We feel the need to express our pain in words and actions. we feel the need to express our pain in words and actions. We also need to articulate our reaction to political leaders's responses. It is our rights and responsibility to give voice to the victims. Alhamdulillah, we have fulfilled the democratic exercise through petitions, letters and marches for peace and justice. Our Palestinian community has shown resilience and hikmah (wisdom) in their responses to this tragedy and the gross violations of human rights while grieving for their families in Gaza. The bar for patience and resilience is high for the rest of us to follow. InshaAllah!

There will always be a few who will cross the line and make us all feel like our message of justice has been hijacked. It may feel that our struggle for humanitarian and international law to be recognized and respected has been set back.


Don’t dwell on it. We are not responsible for each and every person.

As an initial response, the rallies, vigils, and protests have awakened Canadians to the reality on the ground. We have to start working with our allies to develop a comprehensive, and focused strategy to prioritize supporting our community, education, and advocacy.

Let us take stock of the gaps as we move forward.

Unified efforts to raise awareness and educate Canadians on the history of the persecution of Palestinian people in their own land will change the attitudes of Canadians as we are witnessing in public discourse. To be heard, our words and actions must reflect mercy, humility, and humbleness. A unified strategy will make a compelling case if we use the right words (Hikma).


Words can HURT and Words can HEAL


Community Health

Today we are facing unprecedented challenges. The mental health burden from stress, unsafety, fatigue, fear, anxiety and emotional breakdown are taking a toll on us, our families and, our communities. People are suffering and seeking help in greater numbers, including, seeking supports and counselling to cope with grief and anguish for loved ones In Palestine.

Frontline staff offering social and mental health services, including Imams, are also overwhelmed.

The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), along with police units across the country are reporting a sharp rise in hate. Community members need support with the hate directed at them from colleagues, teachers, employers, customers, peers or even strangers. Incidents of hate should be referred to organizations that provide support and systems navigation.

What you can do:
1. There are some who will continue to suffer silently - alone. They also need our attention and support. It is important to check-in on congregants at Jummah (Friday prayers) who may avoid the mosque. This is the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet (saw).

2. Mobilize a team of volunteers in your respective community to check-in with community members, especially seniors, newcomers, and refugees who are at greater risk of re-traumatization.

3. Post, share or refer them to resources and organizations in your area, that provide social services and mental health support.

4.  Extra attention should be paid to community members with family in
Gaza/Palestine. They will be experiencing anxiety, fear, guilt, helplessness, and vicarious trauma as a result of seeing horrific images from their homeland. Many have lost family members and need tangible support, along with prayers.

Let us honour the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet (saw) and
practise self-restraint. When anger takes over, the Prophet
advised us to: When angry- if standing, sit down, do wudu, drink water, lay down, and go for a walk.


Helping Children to Cope

Our children are looking for guidance during these traumatic times. We need to offer them alternatives to protests and rallies.

•  Active listening, holding back judgement.

•  Validate their feelings.

•  Discuss, not argue.

•  Once you have listened, repeat what you have heard.

•  Ask. If they have questions, try to answer their questions patiently and with calm. It’s okay to say, “Let’s find out together.”

•  Explain the situation simply using language according to age, maturity and comprehension.

•  Consider the words you use. Do not express yourself using negative words that may convey fear or make them fearful.

•  As difficult as it may be, do not engage or expose them to political discussion, venting and demonizing other people or different sides of the conflict.

•  Keep them engaged by maintaining stability with regular routines, after-school programs, and healthy social activities. (See resource list).

•  Give them hope. Offer reminders to put their trust in Allah, be hopeful of Allah’s justice.

•  Offer prayer and make Duas (supplication) together.

•  Build resiliency by taking breaks to recharge individually, and as a family.

•  Model self-confidence by keeping calm and expressing your trust in Allah that things will improve, Insha Allah!

Supporting Youth

The youth are vulnerable. We do not want ourselves or our youth to internalize the hate we are being exposed to from different mediums. This increases feelings of despair and helplessness.

•  Model healthy responses to grief and hate.

•  Offer constant reminders from the Quran that will provide confidence and solace.

•  Review CASSA’s Digital literacy toolkit for youth to talk about boundaries and navigating online content.

•  Offer opportunities for social connection. For example, sports, art, youth group etc.


Strategic Response

Delegate tasks such as communications, media engagement, issuing press releases, engaging with civic and provincial government mobilization, and drafting letters and petitions to organizations that are experts. We can all sign on and offer support. This will coordinate the narrative, and offer a cohesive message, reflective of all provinces.

• Volunteer your time and expertise to share the workload.

• Make financial contributions to strengthen organizational capacity for social and mental health services.

• Collect and document incidents of hate to local organizations that will connect with NCCM. This will centralize data and reduce workload.

• Reach out to lawyers, psychologists, and social workers and coordinate support services with local organizations both Muslim and general service providers (eg Family Health Team, Public Health Unit, Community Health Centre etc).

• Connect with allies who are educated in Human Rights, Islamophobia, and the History of Palestine to improve access to workshops and training (eg Bystander Training, Digital Literacy Training, Media Training etc).

• Organize safe spaces for outreach events and teach-ins.

• Offer opportunities for community members to recharge from stress and grief (see resources).

To Service Providers, Leaders, and Imams


• Difficulty concentrating in Salah or forgetting which unit we are performing, is the first warning sign of burnout for Muslim providers. Feelings of despair and frustration take hold with deep physical and emotional fatigue.

•  If you notice this, take a break. Spend time with family or do some fun activities. Go for a walk in a park, put your cell phone away, bake, cook, play sports, or read a book.

•  Set limits for social media use, as well as daily news.

•  Mosques all over Canada are organizing additional prayer sessions. Take advantage and attend with family when you can. Organize communal gatherings for additional prayers such as Dikhr, Qiyamul Lail, Nafl prayers after Fajr or Maghrib, or Qunut.

•  Hold healing circles where people can share their experiences, and ask questions from clinicians, elders, and Imams. (See resources).

You will remember what I say to you, and I entrust my affairs to
Allah. Surely Allah is All-Seeing of all. (Quran 40:44)
Allah protected him from the evil of their schemes. And Pharaoh’s
people were overwhelmed by an evil punishment (Quran 40:45)


Spiritual Stress Relievers


• Recite Alhamdulillah (Praise be to Allah) often. Counting our blessings in silence or aloud, propels us towards a positive, proactive, and patient perspective to life challenges, and enhances our spiritual courage and resiliency. Showing gratitude has psychological benefits. You could also journal or form a list for your family.

• Fasting is beneficial spiritually, such as in times of trials, grief, and vicarious trauma. Fasting brings us closer to Allah and disciplines our tendency to anger.

• Give charity to those impacted by natural or man-made disasters. Charity can also be given on behalf of the deceased, benefitting both the giver and the recipient.

• Sujood (prostration) is a therapeutic posture that promotes and empowers us with spiritual and mental strength. The humbling of oneself and surrendering to. Allah in humility and love and crying for help and forgiveness provides sakeena (peace). Frequent Sujood will refresh our spirit and provides solace to our soul.

• Wadu (ablution) is cleansing/purifying. The ritual of wadu before daily prayer, when done while remembering Allah, taking time with slow running water, refreshes us physically, spiritually, and emotionally. Mindfulness during each action in Wadu will calm our nerves and improve our mood. The fact that this is our prep for facing the Lord and Creator of all that is in the Heavens and Earth strengthens our cognitive health. Being conscious of our words and actions helps us to indulge in an introspective assessment of our strengths and weaknesses.

• For self-healing remember Allah in silence. Ground yourself in a sitting position with your feet touching the ground and a straight back. Close your eyes and feel the water flowing down from your mouth to your throat. Take 3 sips of water. With every sip, recite: Bismilah-Ir-Rahman-nir-Rahim (In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate- Most Merciful). This exercise reminds us to be grateful for Allah's blessings. Water taken in this manner purifies, energizes, and cleanses our spirit and releases our mind from negative thoughts, when taken in appreciation as a favour from Allah.

Increase tasbih and encourage your family to do as well:


•  Audhu billahi min-ash shaytanir rajim
I seek refuge with Allah, From the accursed Shaitan (when angry).

• Hasbunallahu Wa Ni'mal Wakeel
Sufficient for us is Allah, and [He is] the best Disposer of affairs.

• La hawla wala quwwata illa billah
There is no power nor strength except through Allah (to defeat
helplessness).

Remember and Remind:

•  ......They planned, but Allah also planned. And Allah is the best of
Planners. (Quran: 8:30).

•  Do you think- you will be admitted into Paradise without being
tested like those before you? They were afflicted with suffering and
adversity and were so ˹violently˺ shaken that ˹even˺ the Messenger
and the believers with him cried out, “When will Allah’s help
come?” Indeed, Allah’s help is ˹always˺ near. (Quran: 2:214).

• O ye who believe! seek help with patient perseverance and prayer;
for Allah is with those who patiently persevere (Quran 2:153).



Resources 

1.  workshop;   How to channel your anger for Palestine

2.  Youth Support;  Naseehah Youth Helpline

3.   Kid's Support;  NoorKids - Talking to your Kids about Palestine

4.  Healing Circles.;   All about healing circles (Including training)

5.   Community Connection;   Canadian Mental Health Association - Peer Support Resources. 

Connect with a therapist individually, or, to facilitate your Healing Circle (Most therapists have a fee of around $100 per hour):

1. Ruh Care (clinician directory and therapy)
2. Khalil Centre
3. Cedarway Therapy
4. Abrar Trauma and Mental Health Services

6.   Social Prescribing;

• Community Art - Drip Art Community Mural
• Community Art - Abstract Word Painting/Art
• Community Art - Kandinsky Circles
• Sports - Hijabi Ballers
• Comics - Graphic Medicine - Drawing Together
• Group events: Consider kid-friendly events such as pyjama day, game/trivia night, make your own sundae stations, family story time,
physical activities such as basketball, volleyball, swimming, jump/trampoline park, play park etc

• Social Prescribing

• Toolkit for Implementing Social Prescribing
• Nature walk, Photo Walk, Pancake breakfast

 7.   Art therapy for Palestinians ;

Tasha Nadia Matar on Instagram offers in-kind art therapy for Palestinians: the.humanitarian.artist.

8.    Free Bystander Training;  Anti-hate Bystander Training

9.     Reporting Online Hate (CASSA App); Reporting hate and digital literacy toolkit

10.   Institute for Muslim Mental Health; Resources for Professionals

11.   Surgeon General Advisory;  Advisory: The Healing Effects of Social
Connection

12.   GenWell Project to  Combat Loneliness; Human Connection Project

13.   Centre for the Study of Traumatic Stress;  Fact Sheets

14.  Podcasts;      

• Mindful Muslim

• Digital Sisterhood

• Muslim Mental Health Podcast

• Mentally Fit Muslims
• Stories from the Centre


From Allah we come and to Allah is our Return                                                               -----------------------------------------------------


For more information please contact

Institute for Muslim Mental Health-Canada
[email protected]
For more information, email
[email protected]

or 

Islamic Social Services Association
204 944 1560
[email protected]

www.issacanada.com