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(THE CONVERSATION) This year, 9/11 holds a dual significance for Americans across the country. It not only marked the 20th anniversary of the tragic events and lives lost since Sept. 11, 2001, but also . For American Muslims who are both victims of and survivors of suicide attempts, this juxtaposition is especially stark.

In the field of , Islamophobia is recognized as akin to racism in how it leads to . But this definition misses the crucial elements of and social stigma that underlie the American Muslims face. These elements are not only the key ingredients in such acts of social violence, but also the same risk factors for individual .

I am the first self-identifying Muslim American to from the National Institutes of Health to conduct grassroots mental health research within the American Muslim community. I identify as a victim of Islamophobic violence and a . The hypothesis of my research is that the past two decades of anti-Muslim stigma in the sociopolitical climate of post-9/11 America have created the for young Muslims in America to internalize self-hatred and ultimately attempt suicide.

Suicide is a worldwide. It is a top 10 leading cause of death in this country and the No. 1 leading cause of death in . A July 2021 study revealed that American Muslims report in their life compared to other faith groups. These findings suggest a disparity and indicate that there is a unique set of factors that increases American Muslims’ risk of suicide.

In general, there are many elements that contribute to . Some of these include a past history of mental illness, knowing someone who previously attempted suicide and having access to lethal means like guns. Research studies on suicide risk in American Muslims, however, must specifically account for our distinct experience of being , stigmatized and in post-9/11 America. Given the unique that Muslims in America face, a scientific focus on these social factors is essential for studies on American Muslims.

A measuring the level of warmth or coldness that U.S. adults felt toward certain religious groups found that Muslims were placed toward the extremes of the cold end of the scale. A 2017 survey from Pew found that said Islam is not a part of mainstream society and perceived at least some Muslims as anti-American.

These attitudes point to how being a Muslim has been stigmatized in America. There is abundant evidence that , especially as it relates to . I argue that the stigma of being Muslim in America results in exposure to Islamophobic violence that can lead to increased suicide risk and disparity.

But being Muslim is not the only form of stigma and structural violence that American Muslims face. American Muslims are a with backgrounds as and . Coming from over 77 countries, of us are first- or second-generation immigrants, and the majority are racial and ethnic minorities. It is the combined identities of being a Muslim, a racial or ethnic minority and of immigrant-origin that results in – these identities converge and interact with each other in ways that can negatively affect health.

Therefore, a more scientifically accurate understanding of Islamophobia endorses the intersectionality of our stigma as a key variable contributing to suicide risk. Research on American Muslims addresses the dearth of scientific knowledge on culturally specific social factors of suicide. Yet for American Muslims, what factors contribute to our risk for suicide and what protective factors build our resilience are still to be uncovered.

Prior to 2006, the research database returned fewer than 70 search results on “Muslim” and “mental health.” Major grants for funding research on this topic were nonexistent. The launch of the that year attempted to fill this crucial research gap. Today, the over 700 search results with the terms “Muslim” and “mental health” still represent less than one-thousandth of a percent of over 320,000 results on . Evidently, the study of suicide in American Muslims itself faces disparities.

A major barrier to expanding research on American Muslim mental health is access to federal funding. The designates certain groups as disparity populations, which does not include faith groups. While Muslims of the U.S. population, we are projected to become the by the second half of this century. Even so, due to a lack of research resources and scientific interest.

Research on American Muslims relies on select elements of our identities as racial minorities and immigrants to qualify for research funding. But these qualities alone do not fully capture American Muslim lived experiences with Islamophobia and faith-based stigma, prejudice and discrimination. Without data and research on our community, American Muslims may not be considered a disparity group under current classifications and therefore miss critical funding opportunities.

What will America look like by the time we mark the 50th anniversary of 9/11?

By 2051, the will reveal a racial and ethnic demographic. Already, the majority of youth under 18 are people of color. Forty years from now, first- and second-generation immigrants will encompass .

Alarmingly, worldwide are considered an at-risk group for suicide. The diverse new generations in America are born into adverse conditions that expose them to and , or the cumulative negative health effects caused by racism and by being a part of a stigmatized minority group, respectively.

The intersectional discrimination that American Muslims already experience today makes a strong case that we are a crucial reference group when it comes to future mental health research on diverse and marginalized communities. The immense value of culturally relevant research on suicide among American Muslims is evident from its substantial potential to apply across different racial, ethnic and immigrant groups.

Insights from the American Muslim lived experience may provide science with the tools to make sure suicide in minority communities becomes a thing of the past.

If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts, please call the suicide helpline now at 1-800-273-8255 (TALK) or visit the website. You are not alone and there is hope.

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