Deaf Awareness Week: 4 -10 May
Deaf Awareness Week is a time to celebrate Deaf people and Deaf culture, and to raise awareness of the challenges faced by the Deaf community. It’s also a chance to share information about the mental health support available for Deaf people.
At South West London and St Georges, we offer a range of specialist mental health services for Deaf people of all ages, including those with visual impairments. Our teams recognise the importance of Deaf culture, identity and communication needs, and work to ensure Deaf people feel listened to, supported and involved in their care. Below is an overview of the support available for adults, children, young people and families.
Our Deaf Mental Health Services
For adults
Our National Deaf Adult Community Team works closely with local mental health services to support Deaf adults. The team can:
- Carry out specialist assessments
- Offer advice on treatment options
- Help other services better understand Deaf culture and communication
If hospital care is needed, Bluebell ward at Springfield Hospital offers a safe and supportive environment for Deaf adults to receive assessment and treatment. To help new members of staff when they first join the ward, some of our patients created a brilliant communication guide, helping staff understand the best ways to communicate and support Deaf patients. [SA1]
For children and young people
We have National Deaf CAMHS teams in London, Kent, and Cambridge. These teams support:
- Deaf children and young people
- Their families
- Hearing children of Deaf adults (CODA)
Support is usually provided in the community. This can also include advice for schools and other services working with Deaf children. The aim is to help young people build confidence, develop their strengths, and reach their full potential. Our London team were recently awarded the Claire Campbell Outstanding Achievement Award for their dedication.
SignHealth Talking Therapies service
SignHealth provides a specialist NHS Talking Therapies service for Deaf adults, offering emotional and psychological support in British Sign Language (BSL). Therapy is delivered by Deaf therapists or hearing therapists who are fluent in BSL, so no interpreter is needed.
The service supports people experiencing anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or other mental health challenges.
The service is free, confidential, and available to Deaf people aged 18 and over. People can self‑refer online or ask their GP to make a referral on their behalf. Visit the SignHealth website to find out more.
Urgent mental health support
If you are Deaf and need urgent mental health support, contact:
· NHS 111 using SignVideo: https://signvideo.co.uk/nhs111/
· Or South West London and St George’s Mental Health Crisis Line using Convo Now (previously SignLive). The app can downloaded on both iOS and Android devices.
