and constant news. We can easily find ourselves spending too much time checking our Facebook and Instagram stories. It is important to ask ourselves how much time we are spending on social media. Are the people or pages we are following enhancing our life?good company and be in the presence of positive people
. Be around individuals who have a good, positive influence on you; who encourage you to partake of good and help you become a better version of yourself. What we do and how we feel is affected by the people that surround us. The prophet Muhammad said that the best people are those who are most beneficial to others. It is during a mental health crisis that we need supportive people that encourage us with positivity and uplift our spirit.
Finally, think of the power of giving. You may think that it makes no sense to give when you’re feeling depleted. However, studies show that participating in charity work and acts of kindness enhances our self-esteem, our connection to others and our support network. Acts of kindness include helping an elderly person, giving money to reputable charities and organisations, volunteering for a good cause, even something as simple as smiling.
Islam values the importance of good mental health and the relationship between the soul’s serenity and one’s connection to God. The two are not mutually exclusive, but rather closely intertwined and dependent upon one another. It is therefore crucial that as faith leaders, we keep the conversation around mental health going and work towards overcoming misconceptions and stigma around this topic in the community.
Alaa Elzokm is an imam of the Elsedeaq Heidelberg mosque in Melbourne and a member of the Australian National Imams Council