Acceptance and Commitment Therapy with Ecological Systems Theory: Addressing Muslim Mental Health Issues and Wellbeing

Muslims across the word underutilize mental health services for addressing their wellbeing and biopsychosocial, spiritual, and contextual issues. By 2030, the global Muslim population is expected to reach 2.2 billion people. This indicates that Muslim mental health is gaining importance and would require contextually (i.e., spiritually, culturally, empirically) more effective services. Practitioners used Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Ecological Systems Theory (EST) to promote wellbeing and address psychopathology for diverse groups. However, rigorous and comprehensive literature from 1986 to 2019 did not produce research addressing how ACT could be consumed to serve Muslims. Researchers in Muslim mental health have suggested benefitting from EST yet only few have mentioned using ACT. ACT is one of the most effective therapies based on randomized control trials to enhance wellbeing and address psychopathology. The main purposes of this paper are to (a) explain how ACT is one of the most appropriate counseling approaches to be utilized with Muslims because ACT and Islam have many commonalities and (b) propose ACT with EST perspective to enable a much more contextual perspective of ACT so that mental health professionals could promote wellbeing and address psychopathology at all ecological levels for all, starting with Muslims. With the arrival of third and fourth wave of counseling approaches, the use of positive psychology in research and practice has increased dramatically. ACT, Islam, and EST also highly stress a positive approach perspective thus considering of ACT and EST together might promise more effective research and practice in positive and abnormal psychology

The Effect of Counselling on Anxiety Level from the Perspective of Ecological Systems Theory: A Quasi-experimental Pre-test - Post-test Control Group Study

In this study, we aimed to examine how counseling service provided to college students, through a contextual clinical counseling model, affects the anxiety level of college students at a university in the east of Turkey. We followed a quasi-experimental with pretest-posttest and with control group design method. The experimental group comprised 205 and the control group comprised 75 college students. Seven supervisors with PhD degree in counseling and counselor education provided weekly supervision to 120 counselors-in-training who provided individual counseling services to the participants. Each client in the experimental group received in average six sessions, each for 45-55 minutes. We have used an adapted version of Beck Anxiety Inventory for Turkey to examine the clients’ anxiety levels. Throughout the counseling process, we have collaborated with the psychiatry department at the university when it was necessary. Additionally, in order to conduct the complex quasi-experimental study in a smooth process, we developed and utilized the contextual clinical counseling model, as such models are utilized in some of the best counseling departments in the USA. The model facilitated to conduct the complex and dynamic research and providing the services with limited resources. That means optimized the resources through the model and got significant results. As a result, receiving counseling service seems significantly decreasing anxiety level for this sample. The current study meets some important gaps in mental health. We disccussed the findings from an ecological systems theory perspective and suggested some implications in mental health

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy with Ecological Systems Theory: Addressing Muslim Mental Health Issues and Wellbeing

Muslims across the word underutilize mental health services for addressing their wellbeing and biopsychosocial, spiritual, and contextual issues. By 2030, the global Muslim population is expected to reach 2.2 billion people. This indicates that Muslim mental health is gaining importance and would require contextually (i.e., spiritually, culturally, empirically) more effective services. Practitioners used Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Ecological Systems Theory (EST) to promote wellbeing and address psychopathology for diverse groups. However, rigorous and comprehensive literature from 1986 to 2019 did not produce research addressing how ACT could be consumed to serve Muslims. Researchers in Muslim mental health have suggested benefitting from EST yet only few have mentioned using ACT. ACT is one of the most effective therapies based on randomized control trials to enhance wellbeing and address psychopathology. The main purposes of this paper are to (a) explain how ACT is one of the most appropriate counseling approaches to be utilized with Muslims because ACT and Islam have many commonalities and (b) propose ACT with EST perspective to enable a much more contextual perspective of ACT so that mental health professionals could promote wellbeing and address psychopathology at all ecological levels for all, starting with Muslims. With the arrival of third and fourth wave of counseling approaches, the use of positive psychology in research and practice has increased dramatically. ACT, Islam, and EST also highly stress a positive approach perspective thus considering of ACT and EST together might promise more effective research and practice in positive and abnormal psychology

Mental health issues and seeking of formal mental health services among Muslims in the Southeastern U.S.: preliminary investigation of a contextual theoretical framework based on the theory of planned behavior/theory of reasoned action and the social ecological model

The Muslim community in the Southeastern U.S., being a small part of the larger Muslim population in the U.S., faces many psychosocial issues and underutilizes mental health services. Muslims’ underutilization of mental health services to address their psychosocial issues affect both Muslims and non-Muslims alike. Given today’s highly interconnected world, the issues of one individual or community often impact others in ways not experienced at other times in history. However, there is lack of research on Muslims and especially for those in the Southeastern U.S. regarding their approach toward mental health issues and seeking formal mental health services. Researchers stress the necessity to understand Muslims’ approach toward mental health issues and seeking the services by utilizing well-grounded theories to create and/or shape contextual theoretical frameworks (models). However, few researchers have utilized clear theoretical frameworks to ground their studies, which creates an unsystematic approach to research and clinical practice for this vulnerable population. In their study with 88 counselors in the U.S. Cashwell et al. (2013) found that although the participants rated the integration of religious/spiritual aspects into counseling as very important, they integrated these aspects less frequently into their counseling practice than how ratings of importance would suggest. Young and Cashwell (2011) stressed attending to client’s spiritual/religious perspective by stating, “meeting the client where [they] are, without judgment and with compassion, is the foundational building block” (p. 22) to address issues in counseling. The purpose of this study was to understand how Muslims in the Southeastern U.S. approach mental health issues and seeking formal mental health services. A second purpose was to partially test (examine) the proposed contextual theoretical framework based on Theory of Planned Behavior/Theory of Reasoned Action (TPB/TRA) and Brofenbrenner’s Social Ecological Model (SEM) to answer the eight research questions. In total 209 participants’ responses were used for statistical analyses. The results indicated that the participants had slightly higher than the moderate/favorable level on the five constructs: cultural beliefs about mental health issues/problems and their causes and treatments (CBMHP-cultural beliefs), knowledge about formal mental health services (KFMHS-knowledge), and perceived behavioral control toward seeking formal mental health services (PBC) constructs; and a moderately favorable level on attitudes toward seeking formal mental health services (ATFMHS-attitudes) construct; and slightly under the moderate level (meaning participants had a little stronger stigma than moderate level) for perceived social stigma toward seeking formal mental health services (PSTSFMHS-stigma) construct. Meaning that, the participants did not strongly favor or disfavor the five constructs. In addition, the participants strongly aligned with a medical/scientific explanation of mental health issues and their causes and treatments based on responses to the measure of CBMHP-cultural beliefs. The paths (relationships/analyses) among the five main constructs were positively or negatively significant except for one. In an open ended question, the largest group of the participants defined mental health providers from a medical/psychopathology perspective while the others fell under three other categories. In addition, majority of the participants did not feel safe and attributed it to the current climate of exosystem and macrosystem systems they live in. In sum, nearly all researchers in the Muslim mental health literature have stressed the importance of understanding contextual factors for more culturally, spiritually, and structurally appropriate interventions and services. Therefore, it was first necessary to assess and understand how Muslims in the Southeastern U.S. approach to mental health issues and seeking formal mental health services through a well-grounded theoretical framework. In this way, mental health providers and researchers will be able to understand Muslims within a more culturally and structurally contextual perspective and address the mental health issues of this population more effectively by utilizing the results of this study

A Proposed Framework Based on Literature Review of Online Contextual Mental Health Services to Enhance Wellbeing and Address Psychopathology During COVID-19

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) became a pandemic and is causing unprecedented biopsychosocial, spiritual and economic issues across the world while mostly affecting unprivileged populations. Turkey has gradually implemented new regulations, which slowly affected the entire country and increased the need for mental health services disproportionally. We conducted a comprehensive literature review on mental health in Turkey during COVID-19. There was no well-grounded peer-reviewed manuscripts or projects utilized a framework. Therefore, we wrote this manuscript to provide a conceptual framework grounded in ecological systems theory, acceptance and commitment therapy, and community-based participatory action research to introduce contextually evidence-based online mental health services: hotline, psychiatric interview, counseling, and Read-Reflect-Share group bibliotherapy. The framework aims to (1) address biopsychosocial spiritual and economic issues, (2) enhance wellbeing, and (3) empower the mental health profession in research and practice. Our preliminary findings and clinical experience indicated that the proposed framework and interventions derived from the framework enhanced wellbeing and decreased psychopathological symptoms in experimental group compared to control groups. Based on the preliminary analysis, most of the online, phone based, or face-to-face mental health services introduced in this manuscript were highly recommended by the participants to be provided to general public during and after COVID-19. Mental health professionals and authorities can use the proposed framework and interventions to develop interventions and research in order to alleviate pandemic-based biopsychosocial spiritual and economic issues and enhance wellbeing

Muslims and mental health concerns: A social ecological model perspective

Muslims in the United States experience many psychosocial issues and underutilize mental health services. This study sought to systematically identify the common issues and strengths of the Muslims affiliated with a college in the Southeast region of the United States and address them accordingly. A survey comprising 33 items and 2 open-ended questions regarding common issues and strengths was constructed. A total of 116 participants completed the survey. The overall rating for items was quite high, whereas the satisfaction rating was very low. The most important item was, “You have prayer places/rugs, ablution stations, and water in restrooms,” with an importance rating of 94.52% and a satisfaction rating of 20.50%. Four items regarding mental health were rated as the least important, and participants reported lack of knowledge regarding mental health services. This is the first study that includes a list of common concerns and strengths of the Muslim communities affiliated with colleges in the United States

Using online photovoice and community-based participatory research to understand facilitators and barriers to online distance education during COVID-19

In this study, we used online photovoice and community-based participatory research to understand and address facilitators and barriers to online distance education for college students in Turkey. Out of 260 students who consented to the study, 240 shared the most important facilitator, 190 shared the most important barriers, and 190 completed our contextual questions related to their education. We used online interpretative phenomenological analysis to identify key facilitators and barriers. Ten main facilitator themes emerged, including advantages of using Internet and technology (n = 104; 43%); enjoyable feelings (n = 61; 25%); saving time (n = 37; 15%); and social support (n = 28; 12%). Nine main barrier themes emerged, including challenges of online education (n = 51; 31%); psychopathology and unenjoyable feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations (n = 37; 19%); Internet problems (n = 34; 18%); and COVID-19 restrictions (n = 30; 16%). © 2023 Open and Distance Learning Association of Australia, Inc

Online photovoice to explore and advocate for Muslim biopsychosocial spiritual wellbeing and issues: Ecological systems theory and ally development

We aimed to examine the biopsychosocial spiritual strengths and concerns of college affiliated Muslims living in the southeast U.S. through an online photovoice study to enhance their biopsychosocial spiritual wellbeing. Muslims in the U.S., including those living in the southeast, face many issues (physical attacks, discrimination); yet, they are underserved and understudied. To conduct this study in a culturally and contextually appropriate way, we tailored photovoice to collect data online, modified interpretative phenomenological analysis to analyze data, and utilized ecological systems theory and ally theory as our theoretical framework. A total of 131 Muslims participated, of which 118 (80 men and 38 women) completed the participation. The results revealed eight distinct strength and nine concern clusters. The two most reported strengths were having a supportive community (n?=?57) and prayer in Islam (n?=?43). The two most reported concerns were lack of prayer facilities (n?=?54) and lack of support (n?=?32). Following the analysis, a photovoice exhibit and a community dinner were held, where the results were shared with the participants, allies (organizations, departments, chaplain, university), and key people such as administrators, the Muslim community, and others interested. The most important issues were addressed through advocacy, and the connection between Muslims and allies seemed to increase. This study has practical implications. Mental and public health professionals as providers, researchers, and educators must focus on the primary clusters to address Muslims’ biopsychosocial spiritual issues and wellbeing. The professionals can utilize the online photovoice to understand and serve other people contextually in more effective ways especially in the face of disasters (e.g., conflicts, wars, epidemics, pandemics, hurricanes) when it is much more convenient to participate online