After the death of his father, a man begins wearing more traditional clothing. Colleagues discuss the importance of taking social and cultural considerations into account when assessing a concern.
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“After losing his father, Amir has begun wearing more traditional clothing and become more religiously observant. Is this something I should be concerned about?”
No, there’s nothing in this information to suggest that you should be worried. What you are observing is that a young person is making some changes in their life, that their father’s death has had an impact on them.
It may be that his father wore traditional clothing. Perhaps Amir is wanting to copy him to feel much more in touch with him. It’s misinformed: any changes in anyone’s behaviour always makes people alert to that child or to that adult. They suddenly start dressing differently. But, I think you need to put in that cultural context.
So, I guess it’s important for us as evolving professionals and aware professionals to ask questions of ourselves. Do I have any prejudices or lack of knowledge that means I may be viewing this in the wrong way or that I am anxious about something which is not about the person’s behaviour, but is more about my own need for further learning and awareness?
In particular social and cultural practices you might be seen as an obedient son if you were praying a lot more, or if you are observing certain rituals, to be able to give your father in his afterlife some relief.
So, it’s again about that context in which you need to see this change of behaviour. And if you are someone who has seen that, you already know Amir because you’ve noticed the change. And therefore, you are the right person to sit down with Amir and say, “how are you? How are you feeling, what happened?” And unless Amir is disclosing information that suggests that he is being drawn into something that is much more extreme in terms of his faith, there is nothing in this to worry about.
It’s a young person who’s seeking meaning, faith and support. People often go back to religion at times of trouble and I really don’t think that is a reason to consider this one for a Prevent referral.
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