A Project by the Islamic Social Services Association (ISSA) Canada
Our Mission
Our mission is to provide culturally and spiritually informed resources, support, and education to individuals, families, and communities, ensuring that mental health is prioritized and addressed effectively, to meet the specific needs of the Canadian Muslim population in collaboration with mental health professionals. Create a safe and inclusive space for clients to seek help, gain knowledge, and find strength in their mental health journey.
Our vision is to inspire and encourage excellence, innovation, and collaboration for healing, resiliency and wellness.
Our Mandate
The institute will serve as an intermediary; a backbone organization. The institute will empower the Muslim community, its partners, and stakeholders in the realm of mental health:
- Centre of Excellence: Coordinating and promoting the best services among practitioners and their organizations.
- Hub for Research: A Repository of best practices, a clearing house of information, best practices, and service models from across North America and Europe to develop a Canadian model to address Islamophobia and related issues and their impacts.
- Islamophobia Resiliency and Healing: Support victims of hate and violence. Develop and deliver workshops to address islamophobia and research.
Institute Goals
1. Provide trainings for professionals in the fields of mental health to gain insight into providing services that are culturally and spiritually informed when serving Muslims.
2. Develop a spiritual counseling model to address internalized Islamophobia, self-isolation, and vicarious trauma.
3. Build resilience to hate, racism, Islamophobia, xenophobia and cyber-bullying.
4. Advocate against systemic Islamophobia through accredited sector-specific trainings and education about Islam and Muslims.
Facilitate system navigations for clients within public sectors.
MEDIA CENTER
Research and Articles
46%
of Canadian have an unfavorable view of Islam - more than any other religion
(Angus Reid Institute)
42%
of Canadians think discrimination against Muslims is "mainly their fault"
26%
of Muslims Polled felt that their beliefs were not welcomed in Canadian society
(Angus Reid Institute)
(Geoff Robbins/The Canadian Press)
56%
of Canadians believe that Islam suppresses women's rights
(Angus Reid Institute)
47%
of Canadians support banning headscarves in public
According to Stats Canada, Islam was the second most commonly reported religion in Canada in 2021, with nearly 1.8 million, or 1 in 20, people. In 20 years, the share of the Muslim population in Canada has more than doubled—up from 2.0% in 2001 to 4.9% in 2021
(Angus Reid Institute)
UPCOMING EVENTS
Multiple Dates
Multiple Dates