Revive

"All things come to an end. All things fall or break only to be revived once more."

A prayer

Sometimes we only value our good health, when we are tested by illness.

Today I ask you to remember all those who are sick and suffering across the globe, may He grant cure.

May Allah grant us all health, may He grant us the ability to continue striving to do good and use the life He has blessed us with to make change for the better. May we not for a minute lose sight of the blessings of our faculties, and our bodies and do everything we can to maintain them.

May we find ease in our difficulties, and find solace in times of despair. May each person separated from a loved one be reunited. May each child grow in health, faith and strength. May each mother be blessed with courage and the one who sheds tears alone be granted resilience, and companionship which lifts her wings.

May each broken heart be healed. 
May we forgive and may we be forgiven.
May each one of us who feel lost find our way.
May our intention remain pure. May our hearts remain soft, May our words be of benefit, and may our actions remain just, fair, and aid unity, love and peace.

Ameen.

World Mental Health Day 2016

Against the backdrop of the stunning Cathedral voices rose from all walks of life on the challenges of mental illness as carers, as leaders, as practitioners and those who suffer.

Organised by the Diocese of Manchester it was a not only a chance for the congregation to remember those who suffer, in prayer asking to be more understanding, more empathic and more helpful, but also to hear real voices from across a wide spectrum.

We heard from a woman whose son for 29 years was left undiagnosed with psychosis, spent much of his life in and out of prison, self harming and being a risk to others. Despite her efforts to tell practitioners she believed something was seriously wrong with being told he "only had learning difficulties" it took a judge to rather send him to prison again, to instead send him to a place where he could be supported appropriately. 29 years lost. 29 years of suffering for a whole family.

We heard from those working with children and how current media and attitudes impacted on their mental wellbeing. How it was shaping how they viewed themselves often feeling they were "not good enough" as they didn't fit the ideals of others.

Humbling stories which only reminded me of how much work we need to do around mental illness. I was asked to give a muslim female perspective on mental health.

I shared how Islam acknowledges mental illness and is clear on how they should be treated. How in His words and in the Sunnah there is ample examples of self-help, techniques of grounding through zkir and prayer, and ways of finding solace and peace. I shared that Allah is Merciful, however people are sometimes not. There still remains lack of education with associated stigma and shame. That sometimes people can compartmentalise or have a reductionist viewpoint, that if you suffer emotionally or mentally it's simply down to lack of faith/imaan. Some are quick to jump to the conclusions that it is an affliction of black magic or evil eye. None of them being incorrect, however not necessarily the root cause. The body is made up of mind, heart, and soul, and must be looked at in a holistic way.

I shared my own personal journey and how faith had helped me keep my head above water at times I felt like I was drowning. It was my journey to become a counsellor which led me to understand that there was more to the pain behind my smiling facade. What I experienced in the company of myself had names; anxiety and depression, and in acknowledgement I found a way to help myself.

My final thought..

We have to change the narrative. We have to welcome those who suffer as so many around us do so in silence due to fear of rejection or judgement. They walk amongst us, sit beside us, are our colleagues, family members or neighbours. Reaching out is a step towards recovery.

I have learnt in healing others, I also heal myself.