Khalil Center Muslim Mental Health First Responder Training
United States, Canada, North America
The Khalil Center developed the Muslim Mental Health First Responder Training (FRT), an 8-hour workshop for imams and community leaders in North America. The Islamically-integrated approach teaches identification of mental health issues, empathetic listening, referral systems, and collaboration with mental health professionals. 80% of participants valued the Islamic integration, and 92% would recommend it to colleagues. The program addresses the reality that imams are often the first contact for Muslims in psychological distress but lack formal mental health training.
Theme Areas
Behavior Goal
Equip imams and Muslim community leaders to identify mental health issues, provide appropriate support, and make effective referrals to professional services
Target Audiences
Methods & Approaches
Implementers & Partners
- Khalil Center
- Mosques
- Islamic Centers
Donors & Sponsors
- Various Foundation and Community Donors
Key Takeaways
- 1Imams are often first point of contact for Muslims in psychological distress
- 2Islamically-integrated training approaches are highly valued and effective
- 3Collaboration between mental health professionals and religious leaders improves access
- 4Reducing stigma around mental health requires addressing it within religious framework