ADDRESSING mental health challenges requires a balanced approach that combines physical care, spiritual grounding, and professional support.

Physical wellbeing – A healthy body supports a healthy mind. Regular exercise, balanced nutrition, and adequate rest strengthen the nervous system and reduce stress. The Prophet Muhammad reminded believers of this balance: “Your body has a right over you.” (Sahih Bukhari, Hadith 5199). Caring for one’s physical state is therefore a religious duty as well as a medical necessity.

Contentment with Allah’s decree – Faith provides comfort during hardship. Believers are reminded that trials are part of divine wisdom: “Perhaps you dislike a thing and it is good for you.” (Qur’an 2:216). Contentment (rida) shields the heart from despair and builds resilience against psychological pressure.

Positive thought environment – Surrounding oneself with uplifting people, engaging in beneficial activities, and cultivating optimism are essential coping strategies. Islam encourages good company and forbids despair, teaching that “none despairs of relief from Allah except the disbelieving people.” (Qur’an 12:87).

Guidance and counselling – Islam does not oppose medical or psychological intervention. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Make use of medical treatment, for Allah has not made a disease without appointing a remedy for it.” (Sunan Abu Dawud, Hadith 3855). Seeking counselling from qualified experts alongside spiritual support ensures holistic healing.

Community support – Mosques and Islamic organisations can offer safe spaces for dialogue and group counseling. Ultimately, overcoming mental health challenges requires integrating faith, self-care, and professional guidance. By harmonising these elements, individuals can achieve both emotional stability and spiritual peace.

Islam’s holistic methodology for mental wellness

Islam offers a comprehensive approach to mental health that recognises the human being as a union of body, mind, and soul. Unlike purely biomedical models, which often focus only on symptoms, the Islamic methodology emphasises prevention, balance, and spiritual healing alongside medical care.

The Qur’an as healing – The Qur’an is described as “a healing for what is in the breasts” (Qur’an 10:57). Recitation and reflection bring tranquility, reduce anxiety, and renew hope. Many Muslims find comfort in verses of mercy, patience, and trust in Allah during difficult times.

The sunnah – The Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. modeled a balanced lifestyle that nurtured mental health. He encouraged moderation in worship, quality family time, rest, and healthy eating. His dhikr (remembrance of Allah), supplications for anxiety, and emphasis on optimism remain therapeutic practices.

Sayings of the sahaba – The early companions demonstrated resilience through trials. Bilal ibn Rabah, for instance, endured torture with unwavering faith, showing how patience (sabr) and trust in Allah (tawakkul) build inner strength.

Frequent listening to Qur’an recitation – Research shows that rhythmic recitation calms the nervous system and improves emotional wellbeing (Doufesh et al., 2014). For believers, listening to Qur’an recitation is not only worship but also a form of therapy that instills peace and spiritual clarity.

Attending Islamic public lectures – Regular participation in Islamic lectures, sermons, and study circles helps to renew faith, expand knowledge, and build community support. Such gatherings strengthen spiritual resilience and remind individuals that they are not alone in their struggles.

Contemporary scholarship and social care – Modern Muslim psychologists (Rassool, 2016) emphasise integrating spirituality with therapy. Additionally, zakat and mosque-based initiatives provide social and financial support, reducing the burden of stress.

This holistic framework anchored in Qur’an, Sunnah, community, and professional care offers a balanced pathway to mental wellness for Muslims today.

Summary

Mental health remains a pressing issue worldwide in Ghana, where economic, social, and cultural pressures heighten stress and anxiety. This article has shown that mental health is not merely the absence of illness but includes wellbeing, productivity, coping strategies, and social contribution. Scientific research highlights the roles of psychology, biology, and the nervous system, while social realities such as unemployment, postpartum depression, and substance abuse intensify the crisis.

Islam offers a holistic framework that complements modern psychology by addressing both the inner and outer dimensions of human life. The Qur’an, Hadith, and the experiences of the early Muslims provide spiritual tools—gratitude, patience, remembrance, and resilience—that strengthen mental wellbeing.

Combined with medical treatment, counseling, and healthy lifestyles, these practices create a balanced model for addressing mental health challenges. Ultimately, mental wellness is a shared responsibility that calls for individual self-care, family support, professional guidance, and strong community systems.

Conclusion

The debate on mental health in Ghana must go beyond medical statistics and stigma to embrace holistic and culturally relevant solutions. Islam provides a comprehensive approach rooted in faith, compassion, and responsibility. By emphasising gratitude, resilience, social justice, and community solidarity, Islam aligns with modern psychology while offering spiritual depth often missing from clinical models.

Frequent Qur’an recitation, public lectures, counselling, exercise, and healthy social interactions together form a practical roadmap for healing. Importantly, Islam recognises the legitimacy of medical treatment and encourages believers to seek remedies while grounding their hope in Allah’s mercy.

Policymakers, religious leaders, and health professionals must collaborate to expand awareness, strengthen community interventions, and remove barriers that prevent people from seeking help. Mental health is not simply a medical matter but a moral, social, and spiritual one. By combining faith and science, Ghana can address this urgent challenge in a way that honors cultural values, uplifts communities, and restores dignity to those affected.

By Imam Alhaji Saeed Abdulai, the Author

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Scientific research provides valuable insights that complement faith-based approaches to mental health. Three perspectives stand out in contemporary psychology and psychiatry:

1. Cognitive-Behavioural Theory (CBT)

Developed by Aaron Beck, CBT emphasises that negative and distorted thought patterns often drive depression, anxiety, and stress. By identifying and restructuring these harmful thoughts, individuals can achieve emotional healing (Beck, 2011).

Interestingly, Islam encourages believers to cultivate positive expectations of Allah and life:

“Think well of Allah, for I am as My servant thinks of Me.” (Sahih Bukhari, Hadith 7405)

This highlights the harmony between faith and science in promoting positive cognition.

2. Resilience Theory

Southwick and Charney (2018) describe resilience as the ability to recover quickly from adversity and adapt positively to challenges.

This scientific view resonates deeply with Islamic teachings on sabr (patience) and perseverance. The Qur’an affirms:

“And be patient, for indeed Allah does not allow to be lost the reward of those who do good.” (Qur’an 11:115)

Patience is thus both a psychological strength and a spiritual virtue.

3. Public Health Perspective

Scholars such as Patel et al. (2018) emphasise that poverty, unemployment, and inequality are key drivers of mental illness. In Ghana, where youth unemployment exceeds 12% (GSS, 2022), these socioeconomic pressures are evident.

Islam addresses such concerns through socioeconomic justice—mandating Zakat (charity), prohibiting exploitation, and encouraging community support as buffers against despair.

Together, these perspectives show that modern psychology and Islamic teachings converge on promoting resilience, positive thinking, and justice as foundations of mental health.

Social and Environmental Factors in Ghana

Mental health challenges in Ghana are shaped not only by biology but also by powerful social and environmental forces.

• Marriage and childbirth: Postpartum depression remains largely hidden due to stigma. Many women suffer in silence, afraid of being labeled spiritually weak or cursed (Ae-Ngibise et al., 2021). Lack of open dialogue and culturally sensitive healthcare worsens the problem.
• Financial stress: Rising inflation, unemployment, and unstable incomes create daily anxiety for households. The Qur’an acknowledges these trials:

“And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth…” (Qur’an 2:155)

For many Ghanaians, economic hardship is the single greatest driver of psychological distress.

• Substance abuse: The abuse of tramadol and other substances has become a public health crisis among the youth, leading to addiction, psychosis, and social breakdown (Doku & Owusu, 2019).
• Poor planning: A lack of direction in life, especially among the young, breeds hopelessness and destructive behaviors.
• Bad companionship: Peer influence often drags individuals into unhealthy habits. Islam warns:

“O you who have believed, fear Allah and be with those who are true.” (Qur’an 9:119)

These factors demonstrate that social environments profoundly shape mental wellbeing. Tackling them requires community awareness, faith guidance, and proactive policy support.

Foundations of Human Behaviour

Human behaviour is shaped by a blend of psychological, biological, and spiritual factors.

Psychological Basis

• Emotions, learning experiences, and memory patterns strongly influence how individuals respond to life situations.
• Childhood trauma can predispose one to anxiety or aggression later in life, while positive reinforcement fosters confidence and resilience.

Biological Basis

• Genes, hormones, and brain chemistry play essential roles in shaping behaviour.
• Imbalances in neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine are linked to depression and other mental health conditions.
• Hormones like cortisol affect stress responses.

Nervous System

• The central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and peripheral nervous system regulate emotions, decision-making, and behavior under stress.
• Damage or dysfunction in these systems can profoundly affect mental health and daily functioning.

Islamic Perspective

• Beyond biology and psychology, Islam emphasises the spiritual dimension. The qalb (heart) and aql (intellect) guide moral and emotional choices.
• The Qur’an warns:

“Do they not travel through the land, so that their hearts may thus learn wisdom and their ears may thus learn to hear? Truly it is not the eyes that are blind, but the hearts in the chests that grow blind.” (Qur’an 22:46)

This integration reminds us that behaviour is not only a scientific matter but also a spiritual responsibility.

By Imam Alhaji Saeed Abdulai, the Author

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