Find out more and donate to the fund by clicking here.
In April this year, Daniel MJ Webster, a young popular Deaf man, ended his life. He was married with a young family.
Now, a new fundraising campaign has been launched to help more Deaf people to receive Deaf-focused therapy using British Sign Language.
The aim is to raise £50,000 to pay for 278 Deaf people to have 6 sessions of counselling.
Find out more and donate to the fund by clicking here.
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pennybsl
April 24, 2019
It’s time to allow a national Deaf Mental Health Support Team within the NHS as part of its diversity ‘agenda’.
This would be like a portal of good practice & liaising with Deaf/BSL Counselling and similar provision in the UK, or only in England and Wales?
Cost- and Time- effective.
Christopher Wyer
April 25, 2019
It is sadly down to cost and sheer ignorance of the NHS top brass! For example – East Sussex County Council’s Adult Social Care and Health had to make drastic cutbacks but at the same permitting their CEO to have a whopping pay rise. They reek of institutionalised discrimination!
Katy Judd
April 29, 2019
I completely understand Daniel’s family and friends have set up this fund because they want counselling in BSL to be easily accessible when a person needs it. Celia Hulme/SignHealth have also raised awareness of delays getting CCG funding for counselling at BSL Healthy Minds. I do not know why the CCG did not agree to pay for counselling for Daniel and hope that ‘NHS top brass’ will find out why and make sure CCGs know how important it is that Deaf BSL users get counselling in BSL.
Counselling can help with common mental health problems like depression and anxiety. Serious mental health issues, including suicidal thoughts / plans may need a psychiatrist, not a counsellor. The GP can refer a Deaf BSL user to the Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) in their area. The CMHT can then refer the person to the National Deaf Adult Mental Health Service (NHS), who work together with the local team.
There may be communication problems with GPs but going to private or charity funded counselling instead of NHS services for serious mental health issues may not be best. I hope the Deaf4 Deaf counsellors can help a person access NHS services when needed.