From Stigma to Support: Faith-Informed Mental Health and Crisis Response

The International Centre for Advanced Islamic Research (ICAIR) and Risalah Training Institute (RTI) are pleased to announce that expressions of interest are now open for our upcoming Research & Training Workshop on Faith-Informed Mental Health and Crisis Response, taking place online on Sunday 26 April 2026.

This workshop brings together research‑informed understanding and practical pastoral guidance to strengthen mental‑health support within our communities.

It will open with Fatima Bandali, presenting research she conducted as part of the Hawza Online Supervised Research Programme. Drawing on lived experiences, community narratives, and Shi‘i theological principles, she will discuss how cultural expectations and misapplied religious concepts can contribute to silence around distress, and how faith can support compassionate, constructive, and resilient approaches to well-being.

This will be followed by a training session with Sayyid Sameer Ali, a licensed faith‑based counsellor, who will offer a practical introduction to Critical Incident Stress Management. In this session, he will outline key approaches for responding to crisis situations in pastoral settings, including supportive communication, recognising indicators of risk, applying the SAFER model with spiritual sensitivity, and making appropriate referrals.

This workshop is intended for scholars, community leaders, educators, and those supporting wellbeing in faith‑based settings.

Attendance at this workshop is by invitation.

Selected participants will be contacted by email with confirmation and further details.

We hope this workshop will be a meaningful step toward strengthening mental‑health support within our communities.

Recap

On Sunday, 26th April 2026, the International Centre for Advanced Islamic Research (ICAIR), in partnership with the Risalah Training Institute (RTI), hosted an online Research & Training Workshop titled From Stigma to Support: Faith-Informed Mental Health and Crisis Response.

Bringing together scholars, researchers, and community leaders, the workshop explored how faith-informed approaches can contribute to addressing the growing mental health challenges within Muslim communities. Through a combination of research presentation and practical training, the programme focused on moving beyond stigma towards more informed, compassionate, and constructive responses.

The workshop opened with a research presentation by Fatima Bandali, based on her work conducted through the Hawza Online Supervised Research Programme. Drawing on community-based research within Shi‘i communities in the south of England, the presentation examined the relationship between faith, stigma, and mental health. It highlighted a key distinction between theological principles and lived community experiences, demonstrating that while Islamic teachings emphasise compassion and care, stigma is often shaped by cultural attitudes, social expectations, and misapplied religious concepts. The discussion also explored the impact of these dynamics on help-seeking behaviours and community responses to mental health challenges.

This was followed by a practical training session led by Sayyid Sameer Ali, a licensed faith-based counsellor, who introduced participants to key principles of Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM). The session provided a structured framework for responding to crisis situations in pastoral settings, including approaches to supportive communication, recognising indicators of risk, and facilitating appropriate referrals. Emphasis was placed on integrating spiritual sensitivity with professional responsibility, ensuring that faith-based support is both compassionate and effective.

This workshop forms part of ICAIR and RTI’s wider commitment to addressing contemporary challenges through the integration of rigorous research and practical training rooted in Islamic principles. Insights from the workshop will contribute to ongoing efforts to develop faith-informed mental health initiatives and resources for community settings.

We extend our sincere thanks to all speakers and participants for their thoughtful engagement and for making this an important and constructive gathering.

For more information about RTI and its programmes, or if you would like to join the project, please email [email protected].

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