Cultural and Religious Influences on Muslim Clients' Mental Health Support Experiences: A Systematic Review and Narrative Synthesis

Aims This systematic review aimed to synthesise qualitative empirical evidence exploring Muslim clients' experiences of seeking and receiving psychological support. The study sought to illuminate the complexity, differences and shared patterns in Muslim clients' therapeutic encounters to inform culturally responsive and inclusive mental health care practices. Methods A systematic review and narrative synthesis of qualitative studies was conducted using the SPIDER framework. Searches of APA PsycArticles and PsycINFO covered peer‐reviewed articles from January 2020 to February 2025. Study quality was appraised with the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) tool. Data synthesis followed Popay et al.'s four‐stage narrative approach, addressing three research questions on help‐seeking, therapeutic experiences and cultural‐religious influences. Findings Ten studies met inclusion criteria. This narrative synthesis explored Muslim clients' mental health support experiences via three guiding questions. Key findings: (1) Islamic faith both supports and delays help‐seeking through spiritual comfort and beliefs in jinn, black magic, or the evil eye; (2) stigma, emotional suppression and family honour concerns hinder open discussion and therapy engagement; (3) therapeutic relationships based on empathy and cultural humility outweigh shared religious identity, especially when aligned with Islamic values; and (4) cultural, relational and religious factors influence engagement. Conclusions This systematic review highlights how Islamic beliefs, cultural norms and relational contexts shape Muslim clients' mental health experiences. Faith can both support and hinder formal care access, while stigma and family honour concerns complicate help‐seeking. Findings underscore the need for culturally responsive therapies that integrate Islamic values and acknowledge supernatural beliefs.