Parent-Child Interaction Therapy for Muslim-American Parents and Young Children

Abstract

There are limited data available regarding early childhood mental health in the Muslim American population. Nevertheless, the literature has shown that American Muslims are more likely to experience mental health disorders, including being twice as likely to report a history of suicide attempt1 compared to other religious communities.2 Despite these challenges, Muslims in America are often underserved and tend to underutilize mental health services, compared to other minority groups.2-5 The combination of Muslim children with significant mental health challenges and caregivers who underutilize mental health services reduces the likelihood that effective treatments will be used and increases risk of long-term harm for Muslim American children. Research has shown that Muslim American populations may be hesitant in seeking mental health treatment for a variety of reasons, including associated stigma behind mental illness within the community, fears related to past experiences of racism and discrimination in a post-9/11 world, differing way of conceptualizing mental illness and psychological distress that may lead to seeking alternative supports within family and community instead of mental health providers, and lack of knowledge about how to access formal mental health services.6,7 Another plausible reason for the underutilization of mental health services in this population is the concern that mental health treatment may not align with religious or cultural values.3