The Deaf community navigates communication barriers and social isolation on a daily basis. Studies have found that Deaf individuals are twice as likely to experience mental health issues compared to the general population. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to discuss the challenges faced by d/Deaf, DeafBlind, hard of hearing, and late deafened individuals and promote resources to create more inclusive environments.
Why are Deaf people twice as likely to experience mental health issues?
Let’s delve into some of the reasons behind this alarming statistic.
Communication Barriers: It’s a hearing world, and the people you encounter daily often assume you can hear. Assumptions about deafness in a world designed for auditory communication can result in feelings of frustration, exhaustion, and exclusion.
Social Isolation: Deaf individuals often find themselves as the sole representative of their community at events. It’s rare to find others proficient in sign language or even willing to communicate via text instead of relying on lip-reading. This frequent experience contributes to feelings of loneliness and depression.
Discrimination: Deaf individuals encounter discrimination and stigma, especially in educational and employment settings, and unfortunately, sometimes even within their own families. Outdated stereotypes stemming from terms like “deaf and dumb” still influence society’s perception of the Deaf community today. This harmful discrimination not only affects opportunities but also deeply impacts self-esteem and worth, contributing to mental health issues.
Inaccessible Information: From verbal public transportation announcements to uncaptioned social media content and podcasts, aspects of the physical and digital worlds remain inaccessible to the Deaf community. It’s a struggle for Deaf individuals to access the information they need, particularly challenging when English is a second language for many within the Deaf community.
Identity and Cultural Issues: Navigating between Deaf culture and the hearing world can create identity conflicts and stress. Those who are late-deafened, hard-of-hearing, or do not have a strong connection to the Deaf community may feel particularly marginalized.
Trauma and Abuse: Deaf individuals may be at a higher risk of experiencing trauma, including abuse and neglect, partly due to communication barriers that can make it harder to report incidents, seek help, and have their experiences validated.
Lack of Accessible Mental Health Services: There is a shortage of mental health professionals who are trained to work with Deaf individuals, leading to inadequate or inappropriate care. While working directly with therapists who are proficient in sign language is considered best practice, Inclusive Communication Services (ICS) provides interpreters to facilitate communication during counseling sessions.
Early Life Experiences: Many Deaf individuals confront challenges from a young age, particularly concerning delayed language acquisition if they lack access to sign language early on. Given that 90% of deaf children are born to hearing families, this disparity can significantly impact cognitive and social development, potentially leading to long-term mental health issues.
How can you help support Deaf Mental Health?
As we strive to create more inclusive environments, it’s essential to understand how our actions can impact the mental health and well-being of Deaf individuals. Simple behaviors can either support or hinder their inclusion and sense of belonging. To help navigate these interactions, we have compiled a helpful table to foster accessibility in our communities.
| Do not do this … | Do this instead … |
|---|---|
| Do not ignore Deaf people: Phrases such as “nevermind, I’ll tell you later” inadvertently promote exclusion. Instead, when asked, repeat information patiently, creating an environment for effective communication. | Do inclusive conversations: Including Deaf individuals in conversations and social activities fosters a sense of belonging and community. Try using speech-to-text apps, remind the group to take turns speaking, and choose group activities that are Deaf-friendly. |
| Do not make assumptions: Refrain from making assumptions about deafness or relying on stereotypes. Instead, recognize that deafness exists on a spectrum. No two deaf people are exactly alike. | Do ask preferred communication method: Some Deaf individuals solely use sign language, while DeafBlind individuals may utilize tactile signing. Others may not use sign language at all and rely on speech, lip-reading, or written communication. Respecting their personal choices promotes inclusivity. |
| Do not create inaccessible content: In today’s digital realm, accessibility often takes the backseat. Many creators view accessibility as a time-consuming task that results in excluding viewers. If time is of the essence, outsource your accessibility video editing to our inclusive team. | Do caption your content and provide image descriptions: Captioning your content and providing image descriptions are essential steps to ensure accessibility. In fact, these practices promote inclusivity for everyone – 80% of your viewers are watching with the captions on! |
| Do not deny accessibility accommodation requests: It’s crucial to take accommodation requests seriously and address them promptly. Denying requests creates barriers and exclusion. Additionally, denying such requests can be in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which mandates equal access and prohibits discrimination based on disability. | Do provide accessibility accommodations: Ensuring accessibility through accommodations like sign language interpreters and captioning promotes equal participation and engagement for everyone. By advocating and planning for accessibility, we create environments in the physical and digital realms where all individuals can thrive and contribute their talents. |
| Do not mock sign language users or speech ability: Sign language isn’t the same as throwing gangster signs. It’s a whole and complete language, not the butt of a joke. Additionally, while a Deaf person might speak with an accent, making fun of their speech is disrespectful and hurtful. Basic kindness and respect for language goes a long way. | Do learn basic sign language from Deaf teachers: Learning the alphabet and basic conversational signs helps bridge the communication gap. This advice is particularly beneficial for families and friends of Deaf individuals, as it fosters deeper connection. You can find resources on Instagram to start learning ASL today! |
Deaf Mental Health Resources
At ICS, we deeply value your mental health and encourage you to conduct research on the provided resources to identify the one that aligns most effectively with your requirements. This collection is not exhaustive, and additional resources exist that are not included here.
Deaf Counseling Center is a Deaf-owned and operated counseling and consulting practice, staffed by licensed professional therapists who are Deaf themselves. They specialize in serving the Deaf community and their families.
National Deaf Therapy provides therapy services by ASL therapists. Their team centers mental health care in every part of the human experience by offering full-service support.
My Deaf Therapy’s clinicians promote health and wellness using a holistic approach to therapy while integrating proven, evidence-based treatment methods in ASL.
Deaf Lead provides 24/7 crisis intervention, advocacy, case management, interpreting, and mental health support services to victims of crime who are Deaf, hard of hearing, DeafBlind, and late-deafened individuals and their families.
Abused Deaf Women’s Advocacy Services (ADWDS) empowers Deaf and DeafBlind survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and harassment to transform their lives, while striving to change the beliefs and behaviors that foster and perpetuate violence.
National Domestic Violence Hotline provides a state-by-state list of resources for the Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard-of-Hearing.
The Deaf Hotline is a 24/7 hotline that is ASL accessible for people experiencing abuse. With the Deaf Hotline, you can consult with a culturally-adept and trained advocate in ASL.
American Society for Deaf Children (ASDC) is committed to empowering all families with Deaf and hard-of-hearing children and youth by embracing full language and communication access in inclusive environments through mentoring, advocacy, resources, and collaborative networks.
Your Mental Health Matters
It’s important to recognize that mental health is a vital aspect of overall well-being for everyone, including Deaf individuals. The unique challenges they face, such as communication barriers and societal stigma, can significantly impact their mental health. We encourage an open dialogue, sharing personal stories, and joining ICS in our mission to improve inclusion for everyone.
