Bangladeshi men have been hard hit by the pandemic – in terms of higher death rates compared to other communities, industry closures and job losses. However, many fear that the pandemic’s impact on their mental health will be overlooked if lockdown measures wear off.
Imran Khan lost his father to coronavirus earlier this year. While turning to this family doctor for assistance, other Bangladeshi men are less likely to do so, says psychologist Shah Alam. He believes Islam could play a key role in getting men to open up and reducing the stigma surrounding mental health issues. Imam Sheikh Abdullah Hasan has researched this – he has provided mental health toolkits to more than 200 imams and scholars across the UK.
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