Title
LAST UPDATED: August 2026
A Lifeline, 24 Hours a Day
Islamic Relief Canada is extending a lifeline to young people across Canada through a new partnership with the Naseeha Mental Health Helpline - Canada's first 24/7 Muslim youth helpline.
Youth aged 15 to 24 report some of the highest levels of mental health distress in Canada, while suicide remains one of the leading causes of death among young people. Too many are struggling in silence, and for those who do look for help, cost, long wait times and a lack of culturally appropriate services make it harder still.
Naseeha has been answering since 2006, when a small group of volunteers began taking calls after work. More than 100,000 calls later, it offers free, confidential, faith-informed support in languages including Arabic, Gujarati and Urdu - to young people who cannot sleep, parents who do not know how to help their child, and anyone carrying something they have never said out loud.
At Islamic Relief Canada, we believe caring for our community means being there when people need us most - not only during a crisis, but before it reaches that point.
The line is free to call and it never closes. Keeping it that way costs money every hour of every day. That is what your donation pays for.
Your support keeps the line open for the next young person who calls.
How it all Began
In 2006, Naseeha began with a small group of volunteers giving their time after work to answer calls during limited hours. They did not expect how far the service would grow.
2006
WHERE IT STARTED
A small group of volunteers
Answering calls after work
Limited hours
Today
WHERE IT IS NOW
Canada's first 24/7 Muslim youth helpline
12,500 calls answered in 2025
Free, confidential, faith-informed support
Today, Naseeha provides free, confidential, faith-informed and culturally sensitive support to thousands of people each year, listening to individuals of different ages and backgrounds as they navigate anxiety, loneliness, grief, family conflict, identity struggles and moments of crisis.
the impact of our helpline
Behind every number below is someone who reached out - and someone who answered.
100,000+
0
Calls answered since 2006
100+
0
Workshops delivered in the past year
2,500+
0
Web therapy sessions in the past year
Your Donation in Action
Your donation does more than fund a helpline. It keeps a lifeline open. It means that when our youth pick up the phone, someone is there to answer, day or night.
$20
Can help keep the helpline open
$60
Can help support two calls
$120
Can help support four calls
$500
Can help sustain one day of the helpline
Give Monthly and Keep the Line Reliably Open
Monthly support is what a 24/7 service needs most, because it makes the cost of staying open predictable. $20 a month helps keep the line reliably open. You can change or cancel at any time.
Impact/Our work Stats
Impact/Our Work Blurb
2.2m
Stat Description
71m
Stat Description
282k
Stat Description
110k
Stat Description
Reaching Out is an Act of Strength
A young person contacted Naseeha in the early hours of the morning, unable to sleep and overwhelmed by their thoughts. They described feeling exhausted, numb and disconnected from themselves. They had been working toward recovery for some time, and a difficult holiday had brought painful emotions back to the surface.
The counsellor checked on their safety and gave them space to explain what had led to the difficult night. Rather than judging the urges they were struggling with, the counsellor acknowledged how exhausting it can be to fight behaviors that have previously been used to cope.
They encouraged the caller to drink some water and leave their bedroom. The caller went downstairs, drank water and moved to the couch, which helped them feel less isolated. The counsellor reminded them that recovery is not always linear. By the end of the conversation, the caller had taken small steps to care for themselves and recognized that reaching out had made a difference.
"If I didn't reach out, I would be stuck in my bed feeling worse."
Naseeha's Helpline FAQs
When someone calls, they are connected with a trained counselor who can provide a safe, confidential space to talk.
Naseeha’s counselors are familiar with Islamic culture and traditions and support young people through a wide range of mental health concerns and life challenges, including anxiety, depression, addiction, relationship difficulties, and more.
The Helpline is completely anonymous and confidential, helping callers feel safe and comfortable discussing whatever they may be going through.
Your donations do more than fund a helpline. It keeps a lifeline open. It means that when our youth pick up the phone, someone is there to answer, day or night.
Your donation of:
- $20 can help keep the helpline open
- $60 can help support two calls
- $120 can help support four calls
- $1,200 can help sustain one day of the helpline
Topics typically include:
- Loneliness and isolation
- Anxiety and emotional distress
- Family and marital conflict
- Grief
- Faith and identity struggles
- Islamophobia and marginalization
- Parenting concerns
- Moments when someone feels unsafe
Yes! Naseeha offers free, confidential, faith-informed and culturally sensitive support to people from diverse backgrounds, with services available in languages including Arabic, Gujarati, and Urdu.
No. While Naseeha’s Helpline is specifically designed to address the unique mental health challenges faced by Muslims, it also offers confidential and non-judgmental support to anyone in need.
Those of different faiths or no faith are welcome to use this helpline as well as counselors are trained in various therapeutic modalities.