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In the face of the ongoing conflict in Gaza and Palestine, we at Shifa Project recognize the profound impact it can have on the mental and spiritual well-being of Muslims worldwide. Our mission is to provide a supportive community that fosters understanding, resilience, and renewed faith.
Shifa Project is a collaborative initiative born out of the partnership between non-profit organizations and mental health practitioners in Australia. Our mission is to provide support and resources to our Muslim brothers and sisters affected by the conflict in Palestine. By combining the expertise of various organizations, we offer psycho-spiritual support circles, community events, and a wealth of resources to foster a strong, united community.
We envision a united and resilient community where individuals of all ages and backgrounds find the strength and resources to navigate their emotions and renew their spirits. Through shared stories, mutual support, and the embrace of faith, we strive to be a beacon of hope and solace for all.
Our mission is to address the psycho-spiritual needs of Muslims affected by the news and sentiments surrounding the situations in Palestine and Gaza. We aim to foster a sense of community, understanding, and renewed faith, helping individuals navigate their emotions and find solace in their beliefs.
A curated collection of books, articles, and multimedia materials to provide context, understanding, and coping mechanisms. These resources will cater to diverse age groups and will be regularly updated to remain relevant and impactful.
Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD)
CISD is a form of crisis intervention aimed at reducing the traumatic impact of an event by fostering a connection between people who went through the same experience, increasing effective coping, and trauma education after the stressful event. This can help provide space to process after a stressful or traumatic event occurred.
Trained mental health professionals facilitate group or individual sessions to help participants express their thoughts and emotions following critical incidents.
CISD aims to mitigate the psychological impact of traumatic events, promote emotional healing, and prevent the development of long-term mental health issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
This page contains a number of resources that you can utilise in different settings to run a CISD session including the following:
Request to be a CISD Facilitator:
Shifa Project are on the lookout for individuals keen to deliver/facilitate Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) within varying community settings. If you are interested then you can fill out the form below
Request further support and group facilitators for your school or community group:
Should you find it challenging to personally lead a support circle for your school community, consider requesting a facilitator. Engaging a skilled facilitator can provide valuable assistance in conducting a support circle tailored to the unique needs of your school. You can request a facilitator by filling out the google form below
A list of organisations and agencies assisting Palestinian migrants and refugees settling into Australia.
The Shifa Project is proud to collaborate with Dr. Samah Jabr and offer a platform to disseminate resources, events, and provide tools that advocate and support Palestinian mental health and wellbeing.
Dr. Samah Jabr is a psychiatrist practicing in the public and the private sectors within Palestine in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. She is currently the Head of the Mental Health Unit within the Palestinian MoH. She has taught both in the classroom and in clinical settings on the faculties of several Palestinian universities and she is affiliated with George Washington University within the Division of Global Mental Health, where she is currently an Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioural sciences. She is a trainer of several subjects related to psychiatry and psychotherapy including CBT, mhGAP, Istanbul Protocol for the documentation of torture and Treatnet package for drug addiction.
Dr. Jabr often serves as a consultant for international organizations regarding program development, policy planning, and program implementation and as a provider of psychological support and wellbeing workshops for human right organizations. Her varied areas of interest include the rights of prisoners, the problem of stigma, psychoanalysis, childhood trauma, and the integration of mental health with public health. She is a prolific writer on diverse subjects, in both academic and public media, related to Mental Health and human rights; she authored the book Beyond the Frontlines, Derrière les fronts: Chroniques d’une psychiatre psychothérapeute palestinienne sous occupation, published by PMN in 2017, which appeared in French, Italian and Spanish, and the book Sumud, resistere all’oppressione, published in Italian by Sensibili alle foglie in 2021. She is also an author of several Arabic professional manuals and guidebooks, one of them, on Suicide Prevention, won the 2021 prize of the Arabpsy.net.
Dr. Jabr is also a founding member of the Palestine Global Mental Health Network.
A curated collection of books, articles, and multimedia materials to provide context, understanding, and coping mechanisms from Dr. Samh Jabr.
A curated collection of books, articles, and multimedia materials to provide context, understanding, and coping mechanisms. These resources will cater to diverse age groups and will be regularly updated to remain relevant and impactful.
In light of global events, Mindwise Health and Well-being in collaboration with Shifa Project is offering free Telehealth and in-person psychological counselling.
Reach out to us if you need help with:
🔹 Improving mental health
🔹 Improving self esteem
🔹 Improving communication
🔹 Improving relationships
🔹 Improving stress management kills
🔹 Goal setting
🔹 Dealing with grief and trauma
Or any other issue related to mental health…
No referral needed.
There is no shame in asking for professional help:
Who has created death and life, that He may test you which of you is best in deed. And He is the All-Mighty, the Oft-Forgiving – Surah Al Mulk, Ayah 2
Getting professional help
Only a trained health professional can specifically diagnose someone with a mental health condition or disorder. The best place to start is a trusted GP or General Practitioner.
Beyond Blue
Anyone feeling anxious or depressed
Website: beyondblue.org.au
Phone 1300 224 636
Suicide Call Back Service
Website: suicidecallbackservice.org.au
Phone: 1300 659 467
Kids Helpline
Counselling for young people ages 5-25
Website: kidshelpline.com.au
Phone: 1800 551 800
Lifeline
Personal crisis
Website: lifeline.org.au
Phone: 13 11 14
Head 2 Help
Head to Health connects you to mental health support
1800 595 212
CMW Professionals List
https://cmw.org.au/professionals/
Mental Health and Community Support Directory
Muslim Mental Health Professionals List
Heart Chat
Periodic workshops, training and healing circles conducted by mental health professionals, spiritual leaders, and community influencers. These sessions focus on trauma-informed care, spiritual guidance, and resilience-building, tailored to the unique experiences of our community.
As we continue to witness the atrocities unfold in Palestine and beyond, we remind ourselves that our people and stories are more than just heartache and destruction.
Honouring our roots and connecting to our community are integral to maintaining strength and hope.
Join us for a morning of connecting to our roots through olive-tree planting, history and self-reflection.
This healing circle is in partnership with Shifa Project and Educaid Australia
