WASHINGTON: The US Department of Health and Human Services will recognise Dr Farha Abbasi, a noted psychiatrist and active member of the Pakistani-American community in Michigan, as one of the country’s top women faith leaders.
Dr Abbasi, who is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (MSUCOM), was named among the top 15 women to be honoured on Thursday (March 30) at the Women on the Frontlines: Celebrating Women Faith Leaders celebration – an event hosted by US Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra to honour women faith leaders for their incredible services and extraordinary leadership qualities in the service of humanity. Dr Abbasi was also named one of the 15 women in recognition for her transformative work on minority mental health and “extraordinary leadership on behalf of humanity.”
Dr Abbasi’s services
Dr Abbasi received the American Psychiatric association SAMSHA Minority fellowship in 2009 and used the grant money to raise awareness about cultural competency, to redefine it as not just tolerance but acceptance. Her areas of work include faith and cultural psychiatry and teaching medical students about providing culturally appropriate care to Muslim patients.
She works directly with Muslim American community to encourage integration instead of isolation from mainstream society, according to a press release issued by Pakistani Embassy in the US.
Dr Abbasi is the founding director of the Annual Muslim Mental Health Conference which experts from 30 countries attended. She also launched a Global Muslim Mental Health Conference in Malaysia and Jordan. Dr Abbasi is also making efforts to create safe spaces for victims of domestic violence and substance abuse.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to the US, Masood Khan, on Tuesday telephoned Dr Abbasi and felicitated her for making Pakistan and Pakistani diaspora in the US proud with her singular achievement. the envoy said her achievement was “yet another feather in our cap”, and proved the huge talent and capabilities of Pakistani diaspora.
Dr. Abbasi told the ambassador that she has been working for past 15 years not only to reinforce efficacy of faith and cultural based solutions in addressing mental health problems but also to remove stigma that typically surrounds such issues, especially in the developing countries.
Masood Khan lauded her services and acknowledged her efforts in bringing people of the two countries together.
He added that doctors’ community of Pakistani descent in the United States could significantly assist their Pakistani brothers and sisters in addressing mental health issues, creating greater awareness regarding them, overcoming resource constraints and removing stigma linked to such issues due to a number of reasons.
—APP
