Fostering Mental Health and Well-Being among Hajj Pirlgrims: A Narrative Review
Abstract
Indonesia is one of the countries with the largest muslim population in the world, with a Hajj pilgrim quota of approximately 221,000 people for the 2022-2025 period. Hajj worship require not only physical strength but also good mental health and well-being. Adjusting to a new environment and culture can trigger anxiety, stress, homesickness, and even psychosomatic symptoms, which will affect the mental health of Hajj pilgrims. This study aims to develop strategies that can improve the mental health and well-being of Hajj pilgrims. This study is a narrative review of related literature describing the mental health and well-being of Hajj pilgrims.This paper summarizes available evidence from various literatures on factors influencing the mental health of Hajj pilgrims. Based on the analysis of various literatures, a strategic framework can be developed, including psychological training on mental readiness, stress management, and counseling, as well as effective interventions to improve the mental health and well-being of Hajj pilgrims.
References
Al-Shreifeen, I.A., & Marlinda. (2025). Psychology And Health Of Indonesian Umrah Pilgrims: Exploring Mental And Physical Well-Being During The Journey. Jurnal Ilmu Psikologi Dan Kesehatan, 3(3), 125-136.
Bakhtiari M, Masjedi Arani A, Karamkhani M, Shokri Khubestani M, & Mohammadi H.(2017). Investigating the Relationship ship between Hajj Pilgrimage and Mental Health among Sharif University of Technology Students. J Res Relig Health, 3:78-87.
Boulton, D., & Thomas, M. (2015). Anxiety and stress among religious pilgrims: The case of the Hajj. Mental Health and Spirituality Review, 12(1), 56-62.
Darmawan, F. (2019). Counseling Guidance and Anxiety Reduction for Prospective Hajj Pilgrims. Irsyad: Journal of Islamic Guidance, Counseling, Counseling, and Psychotherapy, 7 (1), 101–120.
Hankir A, Carrick FR, Zaman R. (2015). Islam, Mental Health and Being a Muslim in the West. Psychiatr Danub, 27(Suppl 1):S53-9.
Hankir A, Khalil S, Wadood Q, Madarbukus D, Yunus HA, Bibi S, Carrick FR, & Zaman R. (2017). The Federation of Students Islamic Societies Program to Challenge Mental Health Stigma in Muslim Communities in England: The FOSIS Birmingham study. Psychiatr Danub, 29(Suppl 3):512-520
Hankir A, Chariwala Z, Siddique U, Carrick F, Zaman R. (2019). Hajj and The Mental Health Of Muslim Pilgrims: A Review Psychiatria Danubina, Vol. 31, Suppl. 3, Pp 290-293.
Jalaludin, Z., Rahman, A., & Suryana, M. (2018). Indonesian Umrah pilgrims: A Qualitative Exploration of Their Cultural Expectations and Social Dynamics. International Journal of Islamic Studies, 16(4), 205-220.
Khan SA, Chauhan VS, Timothy A, Kalpana S & Khanam S. (2016). Mental Health in Mass Gatherings. Industrial Psychiatry Journal, 25:216.
Masood K, Gazzaz ZJ, Ismail K, Dhafar KO, & Kamal A. (2007). Pattern of psychiatric morbidity during the Hajj period at Al ‑ Noor Specialist Hospital. Int J Psychiatry Med, 37: 163‑72 .
McGhee, J. (2023). The psychology of religious pilgrimage: Anxiety, stress, and the search for spiritual fulfillment. Psychology of Religion, 12(3), 189-200.
Meyer, J., et al. (2011). The relationship between health and mental well-being during religious travel. Journal of Health Psychology, 30(1), 50-60.
Nafis, FZA (2021). Psychological Problems of Hajj Cancellation Congregations in the Pandemic Era from a Cognitive Psychology Perspective . Walisongo State Islamic University.
Özen. (2009). Sociodemographic Characteristics And Frequency Of Psychiatric Disorders in Turkish Pilgrims Attending Psychiatric Outpatient Clinics During Hajj. Dicle Med J Cilt, 37:8-15
Pradipta, G., & Asmarani, D. (2020). The Effects Of Umrah On Mental Health: An Analysis Of The Stress And Emotional Benefits. Journal of Psychological Studies in Religion, 17(4), 145-154.
Razak, A., Mansyur, A.Y., Thalib, T., & Muhammadong. (2022). A Hajj Psychology Training Module Designed to Improve the Emotional Intelligence of Prospective Pilgrims. Jurnal Adabiyah, 22 (1), 113–126.
Sultana, A., & Rahman, M. (2014). Mental Health Issues Among Pilgrims: A Case Study Of The Hajj Pilgrimage. Journal of Religious Health, 53(2), 248-261.
Visser H, Lettinga KD, Siegert CE. (2011). Health risks and advice for Hajj pilgrims. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd, 155: A 3962
Wardana, N., Sultan, MI, & Farid, M. (2024). Analysis of Information Services for Prospective Hajj Pilgrims in Improving the Implementation of the Hajj Pilgrimage at the Ministry of Religion of Wajo Regency. JIIP - Scientific Journal of Educational Sciences , 7 (1), 416– 423.
Yasin, M. (2017). Coping Mechanisms of Indonesian Umrah Pilgrims with Psychological Stress. Journal of Islamic Psychology, 14(3), 112-119.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Authors continue to retain the copyright to the article if the article is published in the Annual Symposium on Hajj and Umrah Medicine (ANSHAR). They will also retain the publishing rights to the article without any restrictions.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Any article on the copyright is retained by the author(s).
- The author grants the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share work with an acknowledgment of the work authors and initial publications in this journal.
- Authors can enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of published work articles (e.g., post-institutional repository) or publish it in a book, acknowledging its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their websites) before and during the submission process, which can lead to productive exchanges and earlier and greater citation of published work.
- The article and any associated published material are distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.



