Greater Boston Muslim Health Initiative - GBMHI

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Greater Boston Muslim Health Initiative - GBMHI We are an umbrella organization bringing together those who address the health and well-being needs of the Muslim community in the greater Boston area.

In early 2013, a collective of diverse professionals in the Boston area formed around a common dedication to serving the local Muslim community’s health needs comprehensively and compassionately, in part inspired by the great work being done by organizations such as the UMMA Clinics and the Health arm of the Inner City Muslim Action Network. Initial discussions, shaped by diverse perspectives from

within academic, clinical and social service settings, highlighted the need for greater networking and information-gathering around the experiences and needs of providers who work with various Muslim populations throughout the Boston area, including leaders and service providers from religious spaces. These discussions led to the first Boston Muslim Health Symposium in May 2013, a groundbreaking gathering geared towards concerns specific to the health of Muslim communities. It was a core collective that convened as a result of this Symposium that created the Greater Boston Muslim Health Initiative (GBMHI), dedicated to furthering the work of expanding knowledge and awareness around a myriad of health issues – from obesity to eldercare, substance abuse to sexual violence – as they affect and influence the well-being of local Muslims. In particular, GBMHI has organized an ongoing Islam and Wellbeing seminar series since 2013, as well as a second Muslim Health Symposium in 2015. We are now gearing up for our Third Muslim Health Symposium on April 29th, 2016.

02/02/2017
It's time to talk, and talk reasonably, about mental illness. We need to come together to eliminate the stigma surroundi...
26/04/2016

It's time to talk, and talk reasonably, about mental illness. We need to come together to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health, like depression. Join us as we explore approaches to mental health at our Third Muslim Health Symposium: Partnerships for Nurturing Health in Muslim Communities this Friday, April 29.

"Depression doesn't mean you need to pray more. Being sad doesn't mean you need to be grateful for what you have. Here in the Muslim community, we forget that depression isn't a spiritual thing; rather, it's a physical thing.

Yes, Allah eases all our difficulties, yes, praying brings us to peace of mind, and yes, our constant faith in Allah should be our only expectation in this life. But, depression is depression and it stays present. Let someone take a moment to be sad, to be perplexed, to be lazy, to be unwilling to communicate. Stop accusing them of being crazy, irrational, and God-less. If somebody is sad, don't tell them, "maybe you need to pray more, or fast." We all have negative experiences, have our own share of hardships and struggles, so we all must regard the other with the same consideration we would want. Depression is a struggle, a big one. So just be understanding. Understand the person before you instead of disregarding them. And understanding begins with kindness, a major mark of a Muslim. Just be kind to people, and speak highly of each other. We all have a hard time doing this, but we need to be reminded. Because kindness is a beautiful thing that is rarely found.

Bring happiness to others and be happy. Smile, because, really, you have no other option. Happiness is a gift, and you'll only ever know it, if and after you've experienced sadness.

So let us experience sadness, with Allah in our hearts."

We're creating a big giant much-needed resource for Boston area community members: a calendar that lists upcoming health...
08/04/2016

We're creating a big giant much-needed resource for Boston area community members: a calendar that lists upcoming health-related events in the area! Take a look and send us any tip-offs by sharing on our wall here or completing the form below our calendar

Know an inspiring young leader in Boston who can speak out against stereotyping?
11/03/2016

Know an inspiring young leader in Boston who can speak out against stereotyping?

Combating Stereotypes & Promoting Discussions

AMHP is on the lookout for savvy young leaders who can deliver a valuable lesson or two on combating stereotypes and promoting discussions on the impact of discrimination on a young person's well-being.

The Muslim Youth Identity (MYI) presented by the AMHP team this past December in Washington, D.C. was a huge success and we would like to to maintain the momentum that was garnered from the event by hosting similar events throughout the country. Nominate a speaker here http://bit.ly/1R0AGkm

Photo: 16-year-old Redefy founder and speaker Ziad Ahmed

20/01/2016

Upcoming webinar on immigrant/refugee professionals in healthcare: http://www.ilctr.org/promoting-immigrants/ilc-workshops/immigrants-in-health-care/

Immigrants are filling critical functions in U.S. health care. Despite comprising just 13 percent of the population, they play outsized roles in medicine, medical science and long-term care. They make up 27 percent of physicians and surgeons, 22 percent of nursing, psychiatric and home health aides,…

23/11/2015

Barriers to mental health care access amongst communities of color

In our survey, we hope to map how our Greater Boston resources are connected & what is lacking. Our most recent survey i...
31/08/2015

In our survey, we hope to map how our Greater Boston resources are connected & what is lacking. Our most recent survey is complete and we have a new one which you may participate in here: http://goo.gl/lpSylk

Our most recent social network mapping survey is complete. We ask you to participate in the new survey by following the link below, which should take about 10-15minutes.Social Network Mapping Survey 2.0 Contact Dr. Lance Laird ([email protected]) or Ashley Houston ([email protected]) with any further ques…

A campaign started by Black Lives Matter activists with suggestions for concrete solutions to police violence. You can a...
29/08/2015

A campaign started by Black Lives Matter activists with suggestions for concrete solutions to police violence. You can also find listed which presidential candidates are advocating for what suggested solution : http://www.joincampaignzero.org/

*This site will be updated continuously in response to the ideas and insights of activists, organizers and concerned citizens nationwide. Click here to propose a new policy solution to add to the site.

SIGN & DISTRIBUTE: Letter by the American Middle East/North Africa Psychology Network call for change within the America...
19/08/2015

SIGN & DISTRIBUTE: Letter by the American Middle East/North Africa Psychology Network call for change within the American Psychological Association. https://www.facebook.com/mona.amer.3388/posts/10152942925891394

Open Letter to the American Psychological Association & the Psychological Community by the American Middle Eastern/North African (MENA) Psychological Network August 14, 2015 As members of the Middle Eastern/ North African (MENA) psychological community, we are united in our deep concern regarding

12/08/2015

Interested in health and wellness access for all Muslims regardless of their theological backgrounds or/and level of practice and lack thereof? We are accepting article submissions for our August issue of our monthly newsletter. Deadline to submit is evening of Sunday August 23. Please email us at [email protected]

17/07/2015

Wishing all a blessed Eid!

For these Muslim communities, fasting is not an opportunity to "empathise with the poor", but a routine and reoccurring ...
22/06/2015

For these Muslim communities, fasting is not an opportunity to "empathise with the poor", but a routine and reoccurring reality. They are "the poor", and the empathy Ramadan is intended to engender has not improved that reality.
For middle class and affluent Muslim Americans, breaking fast atop tables of excess, let action - instead of empathy - for the poor motivate their fast this Ramadan.

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2015/06/ramadan-shadows-fasting-poor-150615095609167.html

Poverty within Muslim America remains largely unaddressed, unchanged and hidden from popular view and formal discourse.

18/06/2015

A blessed Ramadan to all who celebrate!

29/05/2015
Islamic Contemplative Practices & Mindfulness-Based Psychotherapies, a GBMHI Islam & Psychology Discussion led by Reema ...
28/05/2015

Islamic Contemplative Practices & Mindfulness-Based Psychotherapies, a GBMHI Islam & Psychology Discussion led by Reema Baniabbasi. Also includes details of upcoming non-GBMHI events as well as an invitation for article submissions: http://us9.campaign-archive2.com/?u=937d0791439fa88e75aec58d8&id=3dc0e98be0&e=6771cf7592

A report of the last GBMHI Islam & Psychology Discussion and announcements of upcoming non-GBMHI events. May 2015 Newsletter.

28/05/2015

Interested in health and wellness access for all Muslims regardless of their theological backgrounds or/and level of practice and lack thereof? We are accepting article submissions for our July and August issues of our monthly newsletter. Please email us at [email protected]

Integrating Faith & Mental Health Services, a GBMHI Islam & Psychology Discussion led by Dr. Ben Herzig on October 15, 2...
28/05/2015

Integrating Faith & Mental Health Services, a GBMHI Islam & Psychology Discussion led by Dr. Ben Herzig on October 15, 2014, Report featured in our monthly newsletter: http://us9.campaign-archive1.com/?u=937d0791439fa88e75aec58d8&id=6aa0b04924&e=[UNIQID]

Newsletter features: GBMHI Muslim Health Symposium registration and programming, request to participate in Community Resources Mapping Survey, & highlights of GBMHI's last Islam & Psychology Discussion Group.

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