Ibrahim Fayaz, Amir Erfani
Suicide prevention is a critical public health issue, yet little is known about how prepared Muslim faith leaders are to handle situations involving suicidal distress. Despite serving as key sources of support within their communities, their readiness and the factors influencing it remain understudied. This study addresses this gap by assessing the levels of Suicide Prevention Competency (SPC) among Muslim faith leaders in Canada and identifying the main determinants of these competencies. A national online survey was conducted between September and December 2025 using purposive and convenience sampling through Muslim clergy networks and professional associations (N = 99). The survey adapted the Clergy Suicide Prevention Competencies Developmental Rubric to assess overall SPC and five domains using a 14-item, four-point developmental scale. Analyses used descriptive statistics, correlations, mean-difference tests, and linear regression. Results showed moderate overall SPC (M = 2.52, SD = 0.65). Competency was highest in theological and cultural framing (M = 2.86, SD = 0.74) and clergy well-being (M = 2.81, SD = 0.79) and lowest in leadership and community engagement (M = 2.17, SD = 0.74) and postvention and crisis management (M = 2.14, SD = 0.97). Suicide prevention training hours showed the strongest correlation with SPC (r = .526, p = .001), followed by contact with suicidal individuals (r = .449, p = .001). In regression models, both training hours (B = .017, p = .001) and contact frequency (B = .018, p = .01) remained significant predictors, whereas years of leadership experience and suicide-related Janazah (funeral) prayers did not. These findings provide the first quantitative evidence on SPC among Muslim faith leaders in Canada and highlight the need for structured training, enhanced mosque-level preparedness, and stronger partnerships between clergy and mental health services.