North Wales MS and Chair of the Welsh Parliament’s Cross Party Group on Deaf Issues, Mark Isherwood, has today called on the Welsh Government to ensure that Deaf people in Wales with mental health problems receive the help and support they need.
Speaking in his Senedd Short Debate this afternoon, ‘Deaf People Wales: Hidden Inequality’, Mr Isherwood said that 40% of Deaf people experience mental health problems and referred to a report which has revealed that Deaf people in Wales are experiencing significant mental health inequalities because there is a lack of accessible services, no specialist Deaf mental health service in Wales and limited training about Deaf issues for health and care workers.
Calling for change, he said:
“The report ‘Deaf People Wales: Hidden Inequality’, compiled by the All Wales Deaf Mental Health and Wellbeing Group, was launched at the 21st October meeting of the Senedd’s Cross Party Group on Deaf Issues by one of the Report’s Authors, Dr Julia Terry, Associate Professor of mental health and nursing at Swansea University, highlighting the challenges faced by Deaf people in Wales who experience mental health problems and calling on the Welsh Government to make significant changes.
“As the Chair of the Cross Party Group, I pledged to raise this report in the Senedd and welcome this opportunity to do so, in the hope that it may generate a positive response from the Welsh Government and help drive the change required.
“Issues raised by the report include: Limited implementation of the All Wales Accessible Information Standards, meaning that Deaf people still don’t get information in ways they can understand and engage with; A need for an advice and signposting service for individuals, families, and workers; A knowledge gap because lots of health professionals do not know about Deaf counselling services for Deaf people that are provided by Deaf people; and deaf people have to be admitted to Birmingham, London or Manchester specialist mental health wards for full access to communication in BSL for assessment and/or treatment.”
He added:
“As Dr Julia Terry states ‘the mental health of Deaf people in Wales has been a neglected issue for decades. Deaf people are already at twice the risk of mental health problems and find it extremely difficult to get help as services rarely provide accessible information or culturally relevant services’, adding ‘if nothing changes, the mental health of Deaf people in Wales will continue to be at risk’.”
Mr Isherwood highlighted that 40% of Deaf people experience mental health problems, twice the level amongst people in hearing populations, and said, “worryingly, the British Society for Mental Health & Deafness reported in 2020 that Wales is the only UK country that does not provide a clear pathway or service to meet the needs of Deaf people experiencing poor mental health”, adding “the All Wales Deaf Mental Health and Well-Being Group are keen to start a dialogue with the Welsh Government about the issues raised in this report”.
During the debate, Mr Isherwood also urged the Welsh Government to indicate its support for a British Sign Language (BSL) Bill for Wales during this Senedd term.
He said:
“Last February, my Motion proposing that the Senedd ‘notes a proposal for a Bill that would make provision to encourage the use of British Sign Language (BSL) in Wales, and improve access to education and services in BSL’ was passed here with cross party support, no Member voting against and Welsh Government Ministers routinely abstaining.
“Although I have continued to submit bids for a Private Member’s Bill in this Senedd accordingly - and will continue to do so - I have not yet been successful . I therefore also urge the Welsh Government to indicate its support for such a Bill during this Senedd term.”