Addressing inequalities in accessing mental health services for Muslim university students in the United Kingdom: implications for attainment and wellbeing

Abstract

Muslim communities continue to experience inequalities with the United Kingdom (UK) mental health system, despite major government policy initiatives to support wider BAME people. Within higher education, Muslim students consistently face barriers in terms of accessing culturally appropriate services including a lack of cultural understanding, communication issues, and where and how to seek help. This paper attempts to address the problems facing Muslims with regard to accessing mental health services at university. Importantly, this paper highlights that barriers to accessing mental health support for Muslims directly impact upon attainment outcomes and psychological wellbeing. An exploratory qualitative research design utilising focus groups with 18 Muslim undergraduate students examined the impact of negotiating religious inequality and discrimination at university and its effect on mental health. The key findings presented point towards differential healthcare outcomes for Muslim university students experiencing mental illness, suggesting that Muslim students experience overt discrimination and a lack of access to culturally appropriate services that are cognisant of the racialised plights faced by Muslim individuals. Conclusions and recommendations provided advocate greater diversification of mental health support systems for Muslim students and consider how existing systems can function to dismantle racial and religious inequality within the mental health care.