The Amala Hopeline, a phone support program, was started with the aim of providing an accessible, confidential, and culturally competent means of peer counseling and resource referrals for Muslim youth.  The program started in 2015 however in past few years, we saw the trend of a growing number of youths dealing with challenges in damaging and unproductive ways. Some lacked the support system they needed, while others had the support but were afraid to utilize it out of fear of being judged based on their problems. We realized that there are in fact a large number of young Muslims who face barriers – real or perceived - preventing them from seeking support. The Amala Hopeline aims to create a safe space for youth to talk and feel heard regarding any matter.

Topics most frequently brought up include:

· Anxiety

· Depression

· Eating disorders

· Substance abuse

· Dual Identity

· Isolation

Amala Hopeline is a program of the Muslim American Society-Social Services Foundation (www.mas-ssf.org) a verified, well-established and well-respected non-profit organization. Our mission is to aid families at large and in the Muslim community in particular with their social services needs through the lens of improving mental health. Our staff and numerous volunteers are trained in Peer Support and ready to help Amala Hopeline callers. They will recognize cultural nuances that may be impacting the caller; furthermore, they are trained to identify youth who may be at risk for suicide and provide the appropriate support and guidance to eliminate this risk.

We want to raise funds to expand this important and valuable service. New funding will enable us to exponentially increase our support level to the Muslim youth. Currently, Amala Hopeline operates on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sunday from 6pm-10pm PT an can be reached at: 855-95-AMALA (26252.) the Hopeline is staffed by trained youth para-professionals, our goal is to expand it to 24 hours and 7 days a week; we seek to hire and train more staff as well as further promote Amala Hopeline online and at local events.

Please donate generously so that we may continue providing services to combat mental health challenges negatively impacting our Muslim youth. For more information please visit: https://amala.mas-ssf.org/about-us/