Addressing the Mental Health Needs of African American Muslims in an Era of Islamophobia

Abstract

Discrimination and racism are realities for the African American Muslim population. They live at the intersection of Islamophobia and anti-Black racism. African American Muslims are a unique population whose history, multi-minority status, and cultural norms require additional awareness in the clinical environment. They have multiple risk factors that impact their presentation, acceptance, and likelihood to maintain treatment. The richness of the Black experience and resiliency models mean they also have exceptional opportunities for successful treatment and mental well-being. Clinicians can benefit from tools including the DSM-5 Cultural Formulation Interview to facilitate the assessment and to guard against misdiagnosis of the African American patient. Clinicians should look to identify and address barriers, including those that are cultural in nature, as increased awareness of implicit bias is critical and clinicians are challenged to reflect and assess their own biases to decrease their own stereotypes and prejudices. This high-risk population is not homogeneous. Focusing on resilience and identity formation, norms, and community association as experienced by these patients can improve their outcomes. The opportunities to educate Muslims, especially African American Muslims, about the need for mental health interventions early on will help improve access to and use of effective treatment. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)