The Federation of Student Islamic Societies Programme to Challenge Mental Health Stigma in Muslim communities in...

A recent study commissioned by the Scottish Government on the prevalence of mental disorders in Muslims in Scotland revealed that over 50% of the sample met the diagnostic criteria for a mental illness. Stigma is a major barrier to mental health services and despite the availability of effective treatment, many Muslims in Scotland with mental health difficulties continue to suffer in silence. The Federation of Student Islamic Societies (FOSIS) Scotland branch organized a mental health conference in Glasgow to improve Mental Health Literacy and challenge mental health related stigma in the Scottish Muslim community. The conference was comprised of: A counsellor with a background of Islamic psychology, a psychiatrist and an Imam (a Muslim religious leader).

We conducted a single-arm, pre- post- comparison study on Muslims who attended the FOSIS mental health conference in Glasgow, Scotland. Validated psychometric stigma scales measuring knowledge (Mental Health Knowledge Schedule (MAKS)), attitudes (Community Attitudes towards the Mentally Ill (CAMI)) and behaviours (Reported and Intended Behaviour Scale (RIBS)) were administered on participants before and immediately after exposure to the programme.

34 out of the 55 participants who attended the conference responded (response rate 62%). 34/34 (100%) of the respondents were Muslim and the mean age was 22.7 years (Std. Dev. 6.04, min. 18, max. 49). There were no statistically significant changes in stigma across the domains of knowledge, attitude and behaviour in respondents following exposure to the event.

Previous FOSIS anti-stigma conferences in England and Ireland featuring an Expert by Lived Experience were associated with statistically significant reductions in mental health related stigma. The results of the FOSIS Glasgow study supports the, 'Power of contact' with an Expert by Lived Experience at reducing mental health related stigma in the Muslim community. More robust research in this area is urgently required.