ABSTRACT
Evil eye, Jinn possession and witchcraft are real and part of the fabric of beliefs of Muslims. Many Muslims can mistake mental illness for evil eye, Jinn possession and witchcraft. Mental health problems are primarily psychological or physical in origin, whereas evil eye, Jinn possession and witchcraft are primarily psycho-spiritual. Muslims in general make limited use of counsellors and mental health services. There are potential barriers that occur at different levels that inhibit Muslims accessing mental health services. The barriers include cultural and traditional beliefs about mental health problems, stigma, lack of knowledge and familiarity of mental health services and the use ‘informal-indigenous resources.’ The somatisation of mental health problems also acts as a barrier to access services as the patients may perceive their problems as a physical or spiritual problem rather than psychological problems. Imams, faith leaders and traditional healers are usually the first point of contact for many Muslims who are seeking support with depression, anxiety obsessional compulsive disorder, and psychosis, Jinn and witchcraft possession. Imams, faith leaders and traditional healers are de facto health educators and mental healthcare providers.
Psychoeducation and preventive health education should also be part of the role Iman or faith leaders in collaboration with mental health practitioners in raising awareness, educating the community about mental health problems and challenging the stigma about seeking mental health treatment. Whereas mental health professionals can teach imams to recognise mental illness, Islamic religious professionals can in turn educate health professionals about the importance of religious factors in psychiatric disorders. The collaboration and communication should be strengthened between mental healthcare professionals and Imams or faith leaders to facilitate proper referrals and improve access to culturally appropriate mental health services.
