The Ummah’s Wellbeing: A Systematic Review of Community-Embedded Mental Health Models in Islamic Contexts

Mental health disparities among Muslim populations persist globally, driven by cultural stigma, Islamophobia, and incompatibility of Western-aligned mental health services with Islamic values and communal structures. This inequity is particularly evident in Muslim-majority and minority settings, where patients underutilize formal care due to mistrust, lack of religious accommodation, and disorganized service provision. In order to respond to this, the current research aimed to systematically review evidence for community-embedded mental health models in Islamic contexts, specifically focusing on design, implementation, and implications for the well-being of the Ummah. A human-AI collaborative method was adopted, where Scopus AI was employed for initial screening of literature (August 19, 2025) with a broad search string for community-based, faith-centered models. Following AI-aided identification, a rigorous human process was implemented, including PRISMA 2020-standard screening, thematic analysis, concept mapping using NVivo, and verification by an interdisciplinary team of Islamic psychology, clinical practice, and public health specialists. From 1,842 initial records, 112 studies reached the final synthesis. Findings indicate that most effective models are those that are located within respected community institutions—e.g., mosques, schools, and virtual halaqas—and delivered by trained lay providers like imams and community leaders. Interventions like the Muslim Mental Health First Responder Training and Islamic Trauma Healing have indicated significant improvement in help-seeking, stigma reduction, and acceptability of treatment. Socio-Cognitive Integration Theory (SCIT) was conceived as a robust paradigm for understanding mental health from culturally and religiously relevant perspectives. The research implications are profound: they call for a transition from assimilationist care to decolonial, community-based systems. Recommendations are proposed for institutionalizing faith-sensitive training, for academic-community collaborations, and for prioritizing research led by scholars from within Muslim communities to foster epistemic equity and enduring influence.