Muslims and Depression: Faith, Mental Health, & Seeking Help

"Muslims don’t get depressed — and if they do, they just need to pray more." Why is this statement harmful and inaccurate? Because it dismisses real pain. It overlooks the reality that Muslims, like anyone else, can and do experience depression and other mental health challenges. What have we learned? Mental health struggles are not a sign of weak faith. Seeking help from mental health professionals can — and should — go hand in hand with spiritual practices like du'a and ruqyah. Both are part of the sunnah of our Prophet ﷺ. Both are valid. Both are healing.