Abstract
Attitudes, beliefs and res5onses to mental illness and the mentally ill are significantly affected
by the way in which individuals conceptualise and understand mental illness. Religion and
culture play a vital role in the way individuals perceive, interpret and experience mental illness
(Gaw, 2008). It is thus important to explore and understand the way in which religion and
culture influence individual's perceptions of mental illness as this may affect the nature of
family and community support of those who are mentally ill as well as moderate the treatment
process by psychologists and enable them to develop culturally specific interventions
(Morrison & Thorton, 1999).
The religion of Islam is described as a way of life. Islamic beliefs and values therefore filter
into all aspects of a practicing Muslim's life, including their attitudes. beliefs and responses to
illness. This study aims to explore the way in which young South African Muslim women
perceive mental illness with a specific focus on the influences that the religion of Islam may
have on their perceptions.
A purposive sample of five Muslim women between the ages of 17 and 18 years was selected
from an Islamic school situated in the Johannesburg area. Semi-structured interviews were
conducted in order to gain information that was rich in nature and thematic content analysis
was used to analyse the data....
M.A. (Psychology)