2 results
2 - COVID-19, Health Inequalities and the Lived Experience of British Muslims
- Edited by Sufyan Abid Dogra, Bradford Institute for Health Research
-
- Book:
- British Muslims, Ethnicity and Health Inequalities
- Published by:
- Edinburgh University Press
- Published online:
- 18 October 2023
- Print publication:
- 31 January 2023, pp 19-46
-
- Chapter
- Export citation
-
Summary
COVID-19, Health Inequalities and British Muslims
Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19: death rates are higher and survival rates are lower, with statistics varying in different BME communities (Public Health England 2020b). BME communities are at risk of higher infection rates and mortality rates due to certain pre-disposed health conditions and living in poorer, overcrowded housing (Meer et al. 2020). These higher infection and mortality rates together with the fear of spreading the virus or catching it from others have caused further distress. Ethnic minorities in Britain have experienced a disproportional impact of COVID-19, as for these groups the pandemic was translated as a syndemic pandemic (Bambra et al. 2020) because of pre-pandemic inequalities on all social determinants of health such as unhealthy dietary practices, poor housing and working conditions, unemployment, poor access to healthcare, high levels of inactivity and discrimination that ethnic minorities and the majority of British Muslims live with.
This chapter highlights the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on British Muslims and how the pandemic exposed prevalent health inequalities in the UK. We critically analyse the discussions around faith in relation to COVID-19, victim blaming, its impacts and the socioeconomic consequences of COVID-19 lockdowns on marginalised British Muslims. We evaluate the vulnerabilities of British Muslims working in the NHS and healthcare and the responses by professional Muslim organisations providing healthcare awareness. We explore the interplay of ethnicity, religion and deprivation in negotiating the particular challenges of living through COVID-19. We critically evaluate and problematise the notions around ‘vaccine hesitancy’, and question the emphasis on national religious organisations of British Muslims for responses to COVID-19 instead of professional medical organisations or small-scale community-based organisations. We assess the impact of COVID-19 on British Muslim families, children, charity and voluntary organisations, physical activity, mental health and wellbeing, and how British Muslims living in deprived neighbourhoods responded to the pandemic through engaging with community groups. We highlight the work of neighbourhood and community-based organisations and services for healthcare awareness by professional Muslim groups. This chapter also includes multidisciplinary perspectives of academics and practitioners on the pandemic, lockdown, vaccination and subsequent socioeconomic implications of COVID-19 with regard to British Muslims’ lived experience.
13 - The Mental Health of Muslims in a Northern City Such as Bradford
- Edited by Sufyan Abid Dogra, Bradford Institute for Health Research
-
- Book:
- British Muslims, Ethnicity and Health Inequalities
- Published by:
- Edinburgh University Press
- Published online:
- 18 October 2023
- Print publication:
- 31 January 2023, pp 287-312
-
- Chapter
- Export citation
-
Summary
General Overview of Mental Health in the UK
UK government statistics for the general population show that one in six people will experience a common mental health disorder during any given week (Baker 2018). Furthermore, one in four people in the UK will experience mental health issues at some point during their life (Mind 2019).
Mental health has various facets and is not stagnant, but rather is fluid and can change over time (depending on life circumstances). The impact will be different for each individual depending on their disposition and outlook on life. It can therefore be difficult to construct a whole picture without breaking it down into components by investigating the various causal and confounding factors (Abu-Raiya 2012). The complexity of mental health is intricately entwined into our health and wellbeing and can be in correlation with internal and external contributory factors that have an impact on mental ill-health. These include socioeconomic determinants of health such as poverty, inadequate housing, lack of employment opportunities, mental health, sense of self and belonging, relationships, culture, stigma, unrecognised individual potential, healthcare and access to services, appropriate service provision, diagnosis and treatment, and environmental factors including pollution and lack of green spaces (Perks 1987; McGhee 2003; Trueman et al. 2004; Pickett and Wilkinson 2008; Fink 2010; Shaw et al. 2010; Cook et al. 2013; Prady et al. 2013; Ciftci et al. 2012; Hall 2017; The Health Foundation 2018; Cronin-de-Chavez et al. 2019).
Baker (2018) suggests that there are disparities in the use of Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) services and the rates of treatment and recovery, as 13 per cent of referrals for IAPT are from Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities, while the BME community makes up 20 per cent of England’s total population. Furthermore, 40 per cent of Asian service users will complete their treatment, compared to 46 per cent of clients of White origin, and 61 per cent of Asian service users will improve compared to 66 per cent of White service users. Finally, only 44 per cent of Asian service users will recover fully, compared to 50 per cent of White service users.