Improving mental health services for deaf people

A group of people from organisations across Derby and Derbyshire supporting deaf people including charities, workers within the city and county councils, and experts by experience, is now meeting regularly to improve mental health services for deaf people.

The group, co-chaired by Erewash Voluntary Action’s Derbyshire Mental Health Forum and Communication Unlimited, is working through a set of actions that were identified at an event back in July last year.

At the last meeting, the group received an update from Joe Williams, Public Health Speciality Registrar, about the health needs assessment work he is conducting around the deaf population, to identify where potential improvements are needed.

The group is also working to support developments around the Derby and Derbyshire Emotional Health and Wellbeing website building on the accessibility and information contained on the site for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, also known as hearing impaired.

Some of the representatives from the focus group presented to the Mental Health Learning Disability, Autism and Childrens Delivery Board on 9 February, giving their personal accounts of their lived experience of accessing mental health services.

If you want to find out more, please contact jodie@erewashcvs.org.uk.