Mental health and wellbeing: the views of people who are deaf

Silvester, Nicola Jane (2013). Mental health and wellbeing: the views of people who are deaf. University of Birmingham. Clin.Psy.D.

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Abstract

Deaf individuals have higher prevalence of mental health problems but are under-represented within mental health services. Despite emerging specialist provisions, utilisation remains poor. Yet little research has considered why this is. Therefore, a literature review and an empirical paper aimed to explore deaf people's mental health service experiences and highlight factors associated with help seeking behaviour. A systematic literature search was completed identifying nineteen studies for review. Themes emerged around deaf clients' mental health service experiences, covering accessibility, experiences of professional, and communication. Similarly, themes promoting help seeking covered integrated specialist services, signing professionals and alternative communication.
The review highlighted that literature exploring deaf people's views towards mental health service experiences were lacking alongside communication breakdown being a central theme. 186 deaf children (aged 11-19) from UK specialist schools, covering two schooling dimensions (Oral-Deaf and Total Communication), were surveyed across various constructs mapped against the Health Belief Model. A thirteen percent variance in children's help-seeking intentions was explained by model variables, with outcome expectancy and self-efficacy being key to help-seeking intentions. Specific preferences for deaf/signing professionals and specialist services were unfounded. Help-seeking intentions were positively skewed given the specialist environment and easy access to mental health provision provided in these settings

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Clin.Psy.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Clin.Psy.D.

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