In Facing the Challenges of Islamic-Based Social Development through Mental Health Wellbeing Siti Nur Aaffah Hashim 1 *, Wan Norhaniza Wan Hasan 2 1 PhD Candidate, Centre for Islamic Development Management Study (ISDEV), Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Pulau Pinang, Malaysia; Lecturer, Centre for Islamic Development Management Study (ISDEV), Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Pulau Pinang, Malaysia Abstract The globalised era causes a great impact to human and become the core for development. However, the demands of economic development and progress led to humans being burdened hence results in mental health issues. Consequently, the emergence of moral issues caused by this neglection of mental wellbeing. This phenomenon has negative effect on the implementation of Islamic-based social development. Based on these matters, few questions are raised. First, what is the concept of mental health prompt to Islamic-based social development? Second, how mental health able to affect the process in realisation of Islamic-based social development? Grounded on these issues, this paper intends to analyse the concept of mental health wellbeing from the Islamic perspectives and propose strategies in facing social development challenges of today with special regard to Islamic-based social development accordingly. Study conducted on literatures related to mental health shows differences between the concept of mental health according to the conventionally mainstream perspectives and Islamic perspectives. Therefore, different strategies are needed if the objective that wants to be achieved is the goal of Islamic-based social development: the pleasure of Allah (God). Keywords: Mental health, Social development, Islamic-based social development, Social development strategy Corresponding author: Siti Nur Aaffah Hashim E-mail: aaffahhashim16@gmail.com Introduction Economic growth is accepted commonly as a prerequisite to develop a nation. However, a sturdy economy alone does not ensure a holistic wellbeing of a community or society. Therefore, a comprehensive framework for development is needed. To achieve this, economic growth must be balanced with social development and progress. At par with the increasingly expanding economic development, it is undeniable that mental health issues become the interest of many parties due to alarming statistics related to it. World Health Organization (WHO) recorded suicide rate close to reach a million people every year. They found that the global rate for suicidal has increased to 60% compared to 45% in 2017 1 . Some countries recorded the highest suicide rate among people aged 15 – 44 years old and while some other countries has it within the age of 10 – 24 years. However, these fgures only recorded loss of lives with no suicide attempts included. WHO indicates that for every adult who died by suicide there may have been more than 20 others attempting suicide¹. The study carried out by this international organisation fnds that the root cause for suicide is due to weak mental health condition results by extreme mental issues such as depression, stress, personality disorders, schizophrenia and alcoholism (substance abuse). The global trend of mental issues has also taken place in Malaysia. The National Health and Morbidity Survey in 2015 estimated that 1 for every 3 adults aged 16 years and above faced issues related to mental health with the prevalent value of 29.2%. This value is a double increase compared to the prevalence for the past ten years with 10.6% in 1996 and 11.2% in 2006. The survey also fnds that there has been the highest prevalence of mental health amongst adolescents aged 16 to 19 and