Faith and mental health
This section of the schools mental health toolkit has been created to offer information for young people, their parents/carers and other supporters on mental health, in relation to faith and spirituality. In this hub you will find resources offering advice and support on mental health and wellbeing in the context of different religious faiths and beliefs.
We hope this supports you to find your own path to improve your wellbeing and support others in your communities.
Resources by topic
| Five Ways to Wellbeing & Buddhism | The NHS recommends five ways to help improve your mental health and wellbeing. These approaches are all aligned with Buddhist beliefs and teachings. The Five Ways to Wellbeing & Buddhism has been designed in collaboration with members of London’s Buddhist communities, with the support of The Buddhist Society and in consultation with the Network of Buddhist Organisations. There are also various videos on being giving, connecting with others and looking after your mental health. |
| Five ways to good mental wellbeing & Buddhism Leaflet in English |
This leaflet highlights 5 steps for improving mental health. Topics include connecting with god and others, being physically active, learning new things and paying attention to the moment. It is also available in other languages including: Burmese, Simplifies and Traditional Chinese, Nepalese, Sinhalese, Thai and Vietnamese. |
| Keith Munnings, Buddhist Healthcare Chaplain, on giving to others | Kieth talks about how giving to others can improve your mental health. He advises on how to be kind to yourself and others, and references key figures in Buddhist teachings such as the Dalai Lama. |
| David Morris, Buddhist Chaplain, on learning something new every day | David Morris discusses his thoughts on how learning something new everyday can improve your wellbeing. He discusses Buddhist teachings and practices which encourage new experiences and perseverance and how to focus on your own progress and deal with emotions. |
| Young Minds: How my faith supports my mental health | This is a Young Minds article in which Alanna who is 15, talks about how faith helps her mental health. This includes topics of support and compassion, activities to focus on, and top tips when struggling with mental health and faith. |
| 4 Encouraging Truths for Christians with Mental Illness | This article by Lieryn Barnett is for Christians struggling with their mental health. The article discusses how you can support yourself and provides verses from the bible to help you understand you are not alone. |
| What the Bible says about Mental Health | In this article Vivian Bricker discusses the bible’s teachings on mental health. She encourages people of all ages who are Christian to understand that they are not alone. She talks about anxiety, depression and eating disorders and explains how Christian teachings advise getting support for these issues. |
| Youthscope: HeadStrong | Headstrong is a new online space aimed exclusively at young people with a focus on promoting positive mental wellbeing. Youthscape, with the support of the Mind & Soul Foundation, is launching Headstrong to meet those needs. It’s an online space aimed exclusively at young people with a focus on promoting positive mental wellbeing.
Headstrong has advice and insights from doctors and other professionals, including experienced youth workers. But it’s also a space where young people can contribute, posting their own vlogs and content. It’s full of humour and fun, with competitions and quizzes to help lift mood. |
| An Experience of Schizophrenia and Faith: Christianity | This article discusses Schizophrenia and faith and how the bible depicts important figures who also had mental health issues but overcame it. |
| Student Mental Health | In this article, Sam Brown talks about how to have a discussion with loved ones about mental health, explore ways to access professional support and God’s plans for young people as university students. |
| A Christian Teen’s Guide to God and Mental Health | This resource supports teenagers by exploring the stigma around mental health as a Christian and provides practical steps to support young Christians around depression and anxiety. |
| Brave podcast series | The Brave podcast series has four episodes which explores themes to support mental wellbeing. Topics include: Identity, control, tough stuff and failure. |
| Mind & Soul Foundation | The Mind & Soul foundation offers a combination of resources that aim to equip young people with support with their mental health and wellbeing. Resources include support with eating disorders, self harm, anxiety and so much more. |
| Taking care of your feelings | The Methodist Church partnered with Young Minds to produce a resource for young people under the age of 12 to explore mental health support when they are feeling sad, upset, lonely or scared. |
| Staying mentally healthy | Staying mentally healthy is a resource produced by the Methodist church and Young Minds to support with some of the common mental and emotional health problems young people face like depression, eating disorders, self harm, stress and anxiety. This resource is aimed at young people between the age of 12-18. |
| Staying mentally healthy for young adults | This resource supports young adults between 18-30 years old with tips on how to stay mentally healthy and where to get help. |
| Support with exam stress | These resources were produced by the Methodist Church to support young Christians with exam pressures during exam times. |
| Church of England Mental Health Resources | The Church of England provide a range of mental health resources for people who are struggling and need support. |
| Church of England: 13 Daily Reflections | The Church of England have created a mental health reflections booklet with new material to provide hope, reassurance and comfort. It is also available in a podcast series. It is Written by Professor Chris Cook and accompanied by “have a go” habits developed by Ruth Rice. |
| Five Ways to Wellbeing & Hinduism | The NHS recommends five ways to help improve your mental health and wellbeing. These approaches are all aligned with Hindu beliefs and teachings. The Five Ways to Wellbeing & Hinduism has been designed in collaboration with members of London’s Hindu communities. This page also has various videos created with members of Hindu community on how to look after mental and physical health, some can be found below. |
| Five Ways to Wellbeing & Hinduism Leaflet in English | This leaflet highlights 5 steps for improving mental health. Topics include connecting with god and others, being physically active, learning new things and paying attention to the moment. It is also available in other languages including: Bengali, Gujrati, Hindi, Punjabi and Tamil. |
| Mental Health and Hinduism Being Physically Active: Lavina Mehta | Lavina is a personal trainer and wellness coach. This video explains how young people from the Hindu faith can stay physically active which in turn can improve mental health. She advises on how to enjoy exercise and how it can help you to get back on track. |
| Neasden Temple: Connecting with God and Others for Mental Health | Puja Yogvivekdas Swami, Head Sadhu at Neasden Temple explains how you can connect with god when you are struggling and how to manage stresses of life. He also suggests how to connect with others in your community. |
| Good Thinking: Mental Health and Humanism | This page on Good Thinking has resources for Humanists in relation to mental health. This includes a videos on how to cope with grief and isolation during lockdowns and an article on how you can be be a good friend to yourself / be happy. |
| Humanism and Happiness: How to be a good friend to yourself first | This article was written by Caroline Lambie, a humanist celebrant with Humanists UK and the London coordinator of the Non-Religious Pastoral Support Network. She talks about Aristotle’s theory on happiness and steps you can take to be more positive and promote happiness. |
| Five Ways to Wellbeing & Judaism | Practising each of the five ways to wellbeing every day can have a very positive impact on your mood and wellbeing. These are also things which are encouraged in the Jewish tradition. The Five Ways to Wellbeing & Judaism has been designed in collaboration with Jami, in consultation with Rabbi Miriam Berger and Rabbi Daniel Epstein, with the support of The London Jewish Forum, Maccabi GB and the London Borough of Barnet. There are also videos on connecting with people, learning something new everyday, and living in the moment. |
| 5 Ways to Wellbeing Judiasm Leaflet in English | The Five Ways to Wellbeing & Judaism has been designed in collaboration with Jami, in consultation with Rabbi Miriam Berger and Rabbi Daniel Epstein, with the support of The London Jewish Forum, Maccabi GB and the London Borough of Barnet. |
| Barnet Health and Wellbeing Board: The importance of looking after your mental health and wellbeing | Councillor Caroline Stock, Chair of the Barnet Health and Wellbeing Board and former Mayor of Barnet explains the importance of looking after your mental (and physical) wellbeing. She also advises on where you can find support. |
| 5 Ways to Wellbeing & Judaism: Paying attention to the present moment | Philippa Carr, Education Manager at Jami , gives advice on how you can pay attention to the present moment and what that can do for your wellbeing. She also discusses mindfulness and how that can affect your mood in a positive way. |
| The Muslim Council of Britain Mental Health Resources | The Muslim council of Britain have recognised that mental health is still not talked about openly in the community and have signposted many resources and charities that you can access for support. |
| Muslim Youth Helpline | Muslim Youth helpline provide support to young people who are struggling with mental health. The helpline is free and can be reached through phone/chat/email. Conversations are confidential and helpline workers are from diverse Muslim communities in the UK and are also trained in faith and cultural sensitivity. |
| Place2Be: Young British Muslims and Mental Health | This report looks at the obstacles faced by young Muslims in their battle to maintain their mental health. This article discusses that many young Muslims are having issues with mental health and young Muslims are not alone. Although it is usually stigmatised, there are places that provide support including Place2Be. |
| Inspirited Minds Muslim Mental Health Charity | Inspirited Minds is a Muslim Mental Health charity who provide support to people and their families when struggling with their mental health. They also provide advice, podcasts, articles and events to help support you. They are available via phone, chat, email and video call. |
| Mental Health and Wellbeing: Lateef Project | The Lateef project provide mental health support to young Muslims in the form of counselling. Counselling is free and the Lateef Project has several resources to help you understand what you may be going through, incorporate helpful habits into your life, and recognise when you might need to call in some expert help for guidance. |
| Mental Health Awareness in Muslim Community | This Mental Health Today article discusses stigma in the Muslim community and why this is incorrect according to actual teachings in the Quran. It encourages Muslims to access support and explains that mental illness is not a sign of weakness, instead getting support is a way to more healthy and happy life. |
| Insititute for Muslim mental Health: Islam and Mental Health | The institute for Muslim mental health explains what mental health issues you may be experiencing, what the connection is between mental health and Islam and it addresses some misconceptions that the Muslim community may have and how to combat this. |
| Young Muslims and Mental Health: Lockdown | Young Muslims speak out about mental health impact of lockdown. This is to help remove the stigma around mental health in Muslim communities and also for other young people to understand that you are not alone. There is support out there and in this article you can learn about other people’s experiences. |
| Mind: The Quran and Emotional Health Booklet | Mind have created a booklet called ‘The Qur’an and Emotional Health: an introduction which aims to support mental health and engage with Muslim communities. This booklet was co-produced with Islamic scholars, psychologists, Imams and practicing Muslims. Following precedents established in the Qur’an, the resource draws upon Islamic psychology and modern knowledge how professionals can meet people’s needs in a culturally appropriate manner. |
| Five Ways to Wellbeing & Islam | The NHS recommends five ways to help improve your mental health and wellbeing. These are also things which are encouraged in Islamic teachings. The Five ways to good mental wellbeing & Islam have been designed in collaboration with members of London’s Muslim communities, NEL CCG and Newham Council. There are also videos on how to find the right support, giving to others, connecting with god and other people. |
| 5 Ways to Wellbeing & Islam Leaflet in English | The Five ways to good mental wellbeing & Islam have been designed in collaboration with members of London’s Muslim communities, NEL CCG and Newham Council. It is also available in Bengali, Gujarati, Urdu, Hindi, Somali and Arabic. |
| Islam and Wellbeing: The importance of finding support | Councillor Zulfiqar Ali from Newham, Cabinet Lead for Health & Adult Social Care, talks about the importance of finding support for your wellbeing if you are struggling. He talks about religious sayings from key figures in Islam such on how to ask for help and why it is important. |
Contact the CYP mental health team with any feedback or suggestions to add to this toolkit: hlp.cyp-programme@nhs.net.
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