Anyone who calls the MY Helpline will be put through to a fully trained and experienced practitioner, who will talk with each caller for as long as they wish.
Anyone who calls the MY Helpline will be put through to a fully trained and experienced practitioner, who will talk with each caller for as long as they wish.
Starting October 10th, Muslim charity Penny Appeal will begin use of the MY (Muslim Youth) Helpline, providing listening and mental health support for young people between the ages of 11 to 24. Launched by Penny Appeals’s Mini CEO (11-year-old Shakira Rahman), the MY Helpline is a confidential and non-judgemental service for young Muslims across the UK. It will provide faith and culturally sensitive support for any young Muslim facing challenges such as sexuality, family abuse, bullying, and cultural or religious pressures which affect many in modern British society.
Anyone who calls the MY Helpline will be put through to a fully trained and experienced practitioner, who will talk with each caller for as long as they wish. Practitioners will listen and support callers through the emotions they are experiencing, providing all the necessary support. The MY service can also provide access to counsellors with Islamic knowledge (via email) within 48 hours.
If needed, callers can be transferred to specialist organisations that can assist them with issues that require extra care. The Freephone helpline, email, and web-chat provide national coverage and are open 4pm – 10pm, 7 days a week (excluding bank holidays) to listen and to help anyone who calls.
The MY Helpline’s team is headed by Hinna Zafar, a qualified counsellor in Psychology. Regarding the helpline, Hinna stresses the importance of those suffering from mental health issues to come forward for help:
We aim to bring a service which will ensure a safe environment when making calls to us regarding issues such as exam stress, Islamophobia, relationships and family matters. My team and I are here seven days a week to listen and support young Muslims, not only in regards to modern day issues, but also around cultural and faith based matters.”
As many become more open and supportive of mental health issues, charities like Penny Appeal hope to help break the stigma around asking for help. Penny Appeal’s Mini CEO, Shakira Rahman, also stated the importance of a helpline like this especially catered towards the youth:
Setting up this youth line was one of my first ideas when I joined Penny Appeal. I have my mum to talk to about problems such as social media pressure, classroom bullying or body image worries. But many of my Muslim friends at school are too scared to talk to their families as they feel that they will not be understood. So I think that this line will be really helpful for my friends, and many girls and boys throughout the UK.”
The My helpline number is 0808 802 7777, while additionally those in need can contact professionals through e-mail at myhelpline@pennyappeal.org.
To learn more about Penny Appeal’s charity work, click here.
