CLINICAL PERSPECTIVES

55.0 — 55.3

microaggressions. They need to have a full understanding of these patterns of

insults that are hard to recognize but will cause harm to their patients, besides
CLINICAL PERSPECTIVES 55 resentment and mistrust in the provider-patient relationship.

STRUGGLES AND STRIFE: TREATING AMERICAN STRESS, ETHN, BLY

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2018.07.331
MUSLIM YOUTH IN 2018
Balkozar S. Adam, MD, University of Missouri - Columbia,
[email protected]; Cheryl S. Al-Mateen, MD,
Virginia Commonwealth University, cheryl.al- 55.2 ENGAGING MUSLIM YOUTH IN THERAPY
[email protected] Rania Awaad, MD, Stanford University, [email protected]
Objectives: Our goal is to increase awareness of the challenges that mental
Objectives: The goals of this session are as follows: 1) to address the inter-
health professionals face when dealing with Muslim youth and their families.
sectionality of identities in therapy with Muslim youth; 2) to understand how to
The presenters will address ways to meet these challenges. The child and
identify the potential challenges that transitional-age Muslim youth may face,
adolescent psychiatrist will be able to use “best practices” with their Muslim
including bullying (verbal, physical, cyber, and microaggressions) and the role
patients. They will be able to provide a culturally and religiously aware
played by both peers and adults (educators, strangers in public settings); and
approach in their treatment of American Muslim youth. Because of the trauma
3) to discuss the impact of bullying on Muslim youth as it relates to their
and increased stress faced by Muslim youth and their families, a better un-
mental health, academic engagement, and civic engagement.
derstanding of the effect of the trauma and the stress on the Muslim patient
Methods: A review of the literature will be presented to showcase the
will be emphasized.
different challenges that Muslim youth face such as stigma, help-seeking
Methods: The presenters will teach the participants practical steps needed
behavior, and access to care. In addition, Rania Awaad, MD, will present a
to help the Muslim youth and their families. Balkozar Adam, MD will
case of a study that highlights the experience of Muslim youth in light of the
describe the purpose and use of the outline of culture formulation and the
current sociopolitical climate and the role that religion and culture play in
culture formulation interview. She will also describe the major aspects of
shaping their identity.
the Practice Parameters for Cultural Competence in Child and Adolescent
Results: Muslim youth are affected by current stigma against them and will
Psychiatry Practice. Fatten Elkomy will describe her work with Muslim youth
benefit from unbiased therapy and treatments.
and her efforts to help the Muslim youth and their families recognize
Conclusions: In conclusion, we aim to present what we know about the role of
and address micro-aggression. Sarah Arshad, MD, will discuss the role of a
strength factors on multiple system levels, including individual, community,
Muslim trainee during this time of Islamophobia. Rania Awaad, MD,
society, and culture, and provide recommendations for clinicians working with
will discuss a pioneering approach to integrate spirituality and
Muslim youth.
psychotherapy.
Results: The participants will identify and tailor treatment interventions to BLY, COPI, SELE
specific populations that address cultural aspects of clinical care of Muslim https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2018.07.332
youth from different ethnicities, races, cultures, and genders, which will
enhance the resilience of their community.
Conclusions: The evaluation and provision of mental health treatment for any
child or adolescent can be complex. The complexity can be exponentially 55.3 JUDGED BY HER COVER: AN EXPERIENCE
increased for those children with diverse ethnic or spiritual factors in the
OF A MUSLIM TRAINEE
process of acculturation. The practicing child and adolescent psychiatrist must
Sarah H. Arshad, MD, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic
recognize these factors and become an expert in integrating them into the
case formulation to provide appropriate care for children, adolescents, and of UPMC, [email protected]
their families. The provision of culturally competent care is an important part Objectives: The goals of this presentation are as follows: 1) to familiarize the
of the resilience of any community and its mental health. audience with the challenges faced by a young Muslim in the United States
today; 2) to appreciate the different challenges at various stages of devel-
COPI, STRESS, SP
opment, including gender; and 3) to discuss the experience of training as a
Sponsored by AACAP’s Diversity and Culture Committee
Muslim physician in the United States.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2018.07.330
Methods: Sarah H. Arshad, MD, will be presenting vignettes based on in-
terviews with young Muslims who shared their experiences of growing up in
the United States. She conducted phone interviews with 2 young Muslim girls
and one young Muslim man. She will also briefly talk about her experience as
55.1 DEALING WITH MICROAGGRESSION a Muslim physician training in the United States.
Fatten Elkomy, Arthur Center, [email protected] Results: Young Muslims in the United States encounter a number of chal-
lenges, which can change and shift throughout the various stages of their
Objectives: The increased Islamophobia and criticism in relation to the cur-
lives. The difference between being born and raised in the United States and
rent political atmosphere in the United States have affected many who self-
being immigrants appears to have an impact on their experiences, as well as
identify as Muslims, especially the children and adolescents. The actual
their gender. Although family and community support is of some value, there
impact of the ongoing micro-/macroaggressions imposed on this particular
are limitations to how many resources are available to them and how much
population is poorly studied. This study examines the microaggression be-
they are able to benefit from them.
haviors toward Muslim children and adolescents and its impact on their lives.
Conclusions: Young Muslims in the United States are constantly adapting to
Methods: This presentation includes a literature review of online data and
society’s values, which can be at odds with their religion and culture.
research.
Research on American Muslim youth has identified that they face several
Results: Microaggressions are a covert form of brief, common discrimination
challenges, including issues of identity and acculturation, difficulties main-
acts that could be verbal, behavioral, visual, or environmental occurring daily,
taining their personal values and beliefs while attempting to fit in, struggling
whether intentional or unintentional, against a person or group based on
with feelings of discrimination, and challenges with gender inequality. Given
religious, ethnic, or gender affiliations. Muslims are exposed to all forms
the escalating prevalence of mental health illnesses among adolescents
microaggressions that include microassault, microinsult, and micro-
overall, the Muslim youth population seems to be particularly vulnerable.
invalidation. These forms will be discussed in detail, with examples from the
There is a need for more research, awareness, and mobilization of support
literature and patients’ experiences.
for these individuals.
Conclusions: The impact of such hidden assaults is affecting Muslim children
mentally and physically, and they are far from being benign or as some think, SP, STRESS, BLY
trivial. Mental health providers are not immune from engaging in https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2018.07.333

Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry www.jaacap.org S79
Volume 57 / Number 10S / October 2018