In the United States, many Muslims are reluctant to seek out mental health professionals because of the stigma attached to mental illness or because they fear that a Western-trained therapist will not understand their culture or religion.  Yet, many Muslims are wary of talking with outsiders about domestic violence or behavioral issues, for fear that may cast a bad light on the faith generally, said Kameelah Mu’Min Rashad, founder and president of the Muslim Wellness Foundation in Philadelphia. “There’s an ambivalence about sharing these challenges outside of the community because it reinforces the stereotype we’re trying to counteract about who we are,” she said.

With everything going on in the United States, chances are you’ve been working to stay informed, and maybe even help out in some ways — both of which can take a lot of mental energy. 

That might mean going to protests, rallies, and marches, getting involved in local efforts... With SO MUCH going on, it’s easy to get burnt out. So, to help you maintain your mental health while being politically active, BuzzFeed Health talked to the following experts: 

• Kameelah Rashad, Philadelphia-based mental health professional and founder of Muslim Wellness Foundation

• Monnica Williams, PhD, clinical psychologist and director of the Laboratory for Culture and Mental Health Disparities

• Andrea Bonior, PhD, clinical psychologist and author of Psychology: Essential Thinkers, Classic Theories, and How They Inform Your World

Kameelah Rashad, Founder & President of Muslim Wellness Foundation is featured in this Philly.com Black History Month series on Black Joy. "For Black History Month, we're exploring history and identity through the lens of joy. Black joy is the ability to love and celebrate black people and culture, despite the world dictating otherwise. Black joy is liberation. Rashad: "...as black Muslims...in spite all of the challenges and difficulties in our personal lives, but also as a community, we are still very much seekers of love and joy and happiness. 

Four days after President Donald Trump was inaugurated, mental health counselors hosted a webinar on how their fellow American Muslims could cope. They surveyed the political landscape: a White House framing Islam itself as a threat, a surge in anti-Muslim hostility and suspicion of immigrants in general. The counselors offered tips such as limiting time on social media.