Short Communication
Fatten Elkomy
Abstract
Although thought to be trivial, microaggressions have severe mental and physical impact on the individuals of the targeted groups or populations. The fact that this form of discrimination is mostly hidden, common and hard to identify makes it extremely difficult for the victims to protect themselves or respond appropriately to its occurrences. Microaggressions are covert discriminatory verbal, visual, or societal/individual attitudes embedded in everyday life communications whether intentional or unintentional against a person or a group based on religious, ethnic or gender affiliations. Microaggressions degrade, marginalize, and alienate the target group or person causing significant mental and physical harm to the victim. Microaggressions have three types: micro assault, microinsult, and micro-invalidation. The continuous exposure to these aggressive acts increases the risk for serious mental disorders with increased need for psychiatric care. At many societies, Muslim are a main target for microaggressions that is specifically intensified with the propagation of Islamophobia. Mental health professionals have to ensure culture sensitive care by first and far most face their own biases and the societal influences on their practices, believes and ethics. Literature review of online data and research was conducted. Three books directly related to the subject were reviewed. The main objectives were to understand the forms of racial/religion discrimination impeded in society targeting Muslim, the psychological impact of microaggressions, biases in psychiatric care, and ways to help this particular group. Healthcare systems and mental health providers are not immune from engaging in microaggressions. They are required to understand these patterns of insults as it will cause farther confusion to their patients and increase resentment and mistrust to the care they provide to this group.