Welcome to the Do Learning annual series of Ramadan podcasts for the year (1441H/2020) with Muallimah Farzanah Adam.

This year we look at: Lessons from Surah Ahzab (The Confederates/The Joined Forces) which is surah 33 in the Holy Quran, fo

‘Mental health’ and ‘mental illness’ are different terms, increasingly being used as if they mean the same thing, but they aren’t.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mental health is “a state of well-being in which the individual realises their own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community”. Thus, when we talk about mental health, we’re talking about our mental well-being: our emotions, our thoughts and feelings, our ability to solve problems and overcome difficulties, our social connections, and our understanding of the world around us.
On the other hand, a mental illness is an illness the affects that way people think, feel, behave, or interact with others. Just as someone who feels unwell may not have a serious illness, we can have poor mental health without a mental illness. Good mental health isn’t about feeling happy and confident all the time and ignoring any problems, rather it’s about living and coping well despite problems.
Just as it’s possible to have poor mental health but no mental illness, it’s entirely possible to have good mental health even with a diagnosis of a mental illness. Mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of! It is a medical condition, just like heart disease or diabetes. Mental illness and mental health conditions are treatable. With the right support and tools, anyone can find meaning, contribute to their communities, and work towards their goals.

This podcast series by Ustaadah Farzanah Adam (Umm Abdillah) at Do Learning has been designed around the 30-Day Mental Health Challenge created by the Independent Counselling and Advisory Services (ICAS) at the University of Cape Town in 2020.

It will avail to provide a support tool in showing how Islam values the importance of good mental health and emotional well-being. The Holy Qur’an, the sayings and life stories of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and his companions will be used boost your mood, build resilience, and strengthen mental health. Insha Allah.

Intro Resources: www.hr.uct.ac.za and www.heretohelp.bc.ca/resource-library
Audio: Drier Land – Sami Yusuf (Talha Mesut cover).