Understanding Mental Health: An Islamic Perspective - Batley 16.10.25

Aksaa, Spirit in Mind, and South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust invite you to a free workshop on:

Understanding Mental Health: An Islamic Perspective

An Accredited Cultural Competence Training

Date: Thursday 16 October 2025 Time: 9.30 am to 3.00 pm

Venue: Al Hikmah Centre, IMWS, Track Rd, Batley WF17 7AA

Learning Outcome

• The Islamic Perspective on Mental Health and Mental Illness.
• Community and Cultural understanding and attitudes towards Mental Illness.
• What support do people experiencing mental health issues get from their families and friends?
• Drug and Alcohol Addiction and the impact on Mental Health.
• The psychological impact on Muslims from Islamophobia and the constant negative portrayal of Islam and Muslims in the media.
• How the Quran can be used as a guide to those suffering from emotional distress and turmoil.
• The belief in ‘jinn’ (spiritual beings), spirit possession, and black magic, and whether such beliefs can have harmful consequences for the mental health of Muslims.
• Barriers to accessing mainstream healthcare services

Lunch and refreshments provided

To register, please go to: https://MH161025.eventbrite.com

The course is delivered by:

Kaushar Tai, Director – Positive Coach and Training Consultant at Aksaa

Who is this course for? All are welcome, including:

· Anyone interested in Mental Health from an Islamic perspective

· Mental Health Practitioners/People with lived experience of mental health issues

For further information, please contact: Kaushar Tai on 0781 3811914

or email: a2F1c2hhcnRhaSB8IGhvdG1haWwgISBjb20=

Comments from previous delegates about the Islam course:

“There were so many things I took from the day that I can't possibly put into words quickly, but suffice to say, I found it extremely informative and at times very touching”

Julie Purnell | Regional HR Business Partner - ITV West country

“I feel that more people should participate in course like that to gain a greater insight to things we generally have litle knowledge about., and as we are all aware lack of knowledge lends itself greatly to discrimination”.

Anthony O'Farrell- Training Dept – HMP Liverpool

“I think I can say that I found this one of the most informative and helpful courses I have ever attended. It cut through any preconceptions I had about Islam and Muslim culture and it has really helped me to understand what it is like to be a Muslim in this country.

I would recommend this course without hesitation. Most enlightening”.

Iona Butler – Kent Adult Social Services

Doncaster & South Humber “After spending a day with you and the other people, representing the public and voluntary sectors learning about what being a Muslim in today’s world means I feel much more confident that I am better prepared to communicate with this important audience. It was quite an honour to sit at the back and watch one of the five prayer sessions”.

Barbara Mesa-Marketing and PR Manager

“..We were given a fascinating insight into Islam from the perspective of a woman. The speaker was very engaging, informative & it was apparent that she was dedicated to her faith. Every effort was made to answer all questions & once again this led to some very interesting discussion & debate”.

Valerie M Wordsworth – Service Improvement Assistant

“Everyone appreciated the spirit of openness and a willingness to share knowledge of the Muslim faith. Each member of staff who attended has come away from the course having gained a better understanding of Islam which will greatly assist us when working within the community”

Sally Fellows-Programme Manager-Tinsley Surestart

“I found the whole day to be extremely interesting and informative. It was refreshing to hear fact separated from myth and, perhaps most importantly, clearly defined the differences between religion and culture”.

Department of Trade & Industry, -Employment Services,

Isle of Man Government

“As a supervisor in a public service and as an individual I feel it is important to be aware of diversity in the organisation and the community it serves, this course has certainly educated me in aspects of Islam and I feel that I can encourage members of staff to attend and be confident that they will further their knowledge and awareness..”

Rhona J WaltonT/Administrative Supervisor

“We were impressed with the trainers’ vast knowledge & experience which they shared in an open & honest manner. No question was left unanswered, with examples given from personal experience, which made it more realistic & prompted discussion”

Allison Morgan – Housing Training Officer

1 July 2019

Testimonial for Aksaa Re: Islam Awareness Course

Kaushar has been delivering Introduction to Islam & Muslim Culture courses for us at the University of Portsmouth since 2017 and has consistently received positive feedback from delegates. The workshop provides valuable insights into the Muslim Culture; allows delegates to ask question to aid the development of their knowledge and understanding; and the inclusion of a visit to a local mosque is a real highlight.

Delegates have commented on the value of “..Being able to ask anything without fear of feeling ignorant, intrusive or causing any unintended offence.." and how appreciative they were of Kaushar's "...informative, patient, even-handed..." delivery.

We are looking forward to welcoming Kaushar to the University of Portsmouth for further workshops in the next academic year.

Kass Hawkley

Learning & Development Adviser

Learning & Development

University of Portsmouth

023 9284 3382

Testimonial For:

Kaushar Tai – Management and Training Consultant and Director of Aksaa

March 2019

I first met Kaushar Tai after attending his course “Introduction to Islam & Muslim Culture in Leeds. Following on from that initial meeting we discussed the possibility of him delivery culture awareness training for staff at Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service. Kaushar was able to develop a half day course, which linked into the work our staff carryout within the community. This training has now been delivered to over 150 staff from Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service and Merseyside Police.

Kaushar Tai has also helped develop a booklet Health and Safety – An Islamic Perspective which includes links to fire safety legislation. This booklet is being used as part of a wider national NFCC (National Fire Chief Councils) Project. He has also facilitated a number of meetings and conferences with members of the Muslim, Sikh and Hindu Communities from across Merseyside to help improve our community engagement and highlight the importance of fire safety.

Kaushar has also recently facilitated a joint collaboration event with Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service and Merseyside Police.

The aim of the event held in November, was to bring together representatives from as many different faiths as possible along with the chaplains who support both organisations to celebrate how “Faith makes our communities of Merseyside stronger”, and was an opportunity to hear how other faiths are working together. In total we had 20 people from across Merseyside representing the Islamic, Jewish; Christian and Sikh faiths attended the event. This event has led to further community engagement events.

Wendy Kenyon Chartered Fellow CIPD

Diversity, Engagement and Consultation Manager

Merseyside Fire &Rescue Service

Service Head Quarters

Bridle Road

Bootle

L30 4YD

d2VuZHlrZW55b24gfCBtZXJzZXlmaXJlICEgZ292ICEgdWs=

01512964422

Vicky Campbell

Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service

Equality and Diversity Coordinator

Tel 0151 296 4236

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Testimonial for Kaushar Tai Director of Aksaa

"Kaushar is a Management and Training Consultant and Director of Aksaa. I have known him for 2 1/2, years when I first commissioned him to deliver Islamic Awareness and Cultural Competency Training for over 80 Social Workers and Foster Carers in the North London Adoption and Fostering Consortium. The Consortium comprises 6 north London Local Authorities who work together to provide adoption and fostering services.

The feedback from the training was very positive. Since then, Kaushar has assisted the NLAFC in helping us to recruit Muslim Foster Carers and Adopters across the London area. We have held four recruitment events, which he chaired, and helped organise through planning and monitoring meetings.

The outcomes of all these sessions were very successful in raising awareness about the Islamic perspective on fostering and adoption and recruiting potential Adopters and Foster Carers. The last such event was held at the Regents Park Mosque, on 16 April 2016, where over 280 people attended. Kaushar also helped produce a Briefing Paper on the Islamic Perspective on Fostering and Adoption which he presented to a group of Islamic Scholars at the Regents Park Mosque on the 17 February 2016, and helped in the development of leaflets, advertising and publicity materials.

Kaushar’s industry, enthusiasm, commitment and passion in Fostering and Adoption has helped him drive this campaign forward. He is, himself, a Foster Carer which has helped in addressing many of the questions raised about Fostering and Adoption among the Muslim Community. I know that he has also assisted other agencies with recruitment and training and would highly recommend him to any Local Authority wishing to develop their recruitment and training services within their local Muslim Communities.”

Peter Stevens,

Manager, NLAFC – North London Adoption and Fostering Consortium

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07596 442526

24 July 2019

Testimonial for Kaushar Tai – Director of Aksaa

Kaushar delivered a workshop on Islamophobia at the LYPFT Staff CPD event in May 2019.

Kaushar is a very professional and engaging facilitator and tailored the workshop with a specific focus on mental health service delivery for our clinicians. It was a very popular session and comments from participants included:

“Excellent, really enjoyed it” “I wish this session was longer”

The resources provided in the workshop were very much appreciated and valued as a feature to be included in teams and services by attendees.

Ruby Bansel

Diversity & Inclusion Project Manager

LEEDS & YORK PARTNERSHIP (NHS) FOUNDATION TRUST

Diversity & Inclusion

St Mary’s House

St Mary’s Road

Leeds

LS7 3JX

Tel: 0113 8559916

Mobile: 07980 956590

Registered Charity No. 1055931-14

21 August 2019

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN Mike Gartland

Head of Pastoral & Spiritual Care

Fieldhead Hospital

Ouchthorpe Lane

Wakefield

WF1 3SP

Tel: 01924 316286 (direct)

01924 316282 (office)

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Re: Kaushar Tai

I was fortunate some years ago to participate in a Muslim Awareness event led by Kaushar. More recently, he and I have collaborated in arranging and presenting a number of training events in the West Yorkshire area.

These have included leadership skills for faith leaders and non-violent communication skills. In planning are further joint workshops on Muslim and Christian understandings of mental health and compassion-based approaches to care.

Kaushar is a remarkably gifted man who brings outstanding skills and commitment to the presentation and delivery of the projects he is involved with. His organisational skills are of the highest order and his workshops and training events always receive very high levels of positive feedback.

He has, in addition, the ability to handle very sensitive issues with exemplary diplomacy and tact and the interpersonal skills to engage with all sections of society.

Yours sincerely

Mike Gartland MSc. M.Ed. BA(Hons) Dip Psych. UKCP

Head of Pastoral & Spiritual Care & SIM Project Lead

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Fieldhead Hospital

Wakefield WF1 3SP

Further comments and letters can be found on our website www.aksaa.co.uk

AKSAA Management & Training Consultants

For further information please contact:

Kaushar Tai at Aksaa on 0781 3811914

If you require Aksaa to deliver an in-house course or a ‘specialised’ course specifically for your organisation, then please contact us above or email: a2F1c2hhcnRhaSB8IGhvdG1haWwgISBjb20= to discuss your requirements.

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