Mental health and being Deaf

Play this clip in full screen mode (double-click on the movie when it opens in Windows Media Player)

We believe that being Deaf in a hearing world can be bad for your mental health.

Many Deaf people have gone through discrimination such as not being allowed to voice while signing, or not being allowed to sign at all.

Many Deaf people feel very isolated.

Research has shown that about 25% of hearing people are likely to go through a mental health problem. For Deaf and hard of hearing people this goes up to 40%. As many as 50% of profoundly Deaf people are likely to go though a mental health crisis.

This shows that if you are Deaf and have mental health problems you are not alone, but you may be feeling very isolated. This feeling may be made worse by the fact that any professionals who help you are likely to be hearing, and you may not understand each other.

You can get help.

It is very important that you get an interpreter, if you need one. It may also be very helpful for you to use an advocate (see separate video clip on advocacy).