Better hearing, mental health care should be made available to all
Peoria IndependentMay 31, 2017
With more than 1 million deaf or hard of hearing in
This month is both Better Hearing and Speech Month (BHSM) and Mental Health Month (MHM), and together, both causes connect on an important issue within the deaf and hard of hearing communities.
The deaf or hard of hearing are an underserved cultural and linguistic population within the nation's mental health system. Unfortunately, it is all too common that a cultural, language or communication issue is mistaken for a developmental delay or mental illness. Additionally, there is evidence to show that those who are deaf or hard of hearing are more likely to experience depression, anxiety, cognitive decline and social isolation.
A recent article from
Moreover, individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing who live in rural areas face an entirely different set of challenges from those who live in more urban regions.
More than 90 percent of all psychologists and psychiatrists work exclusively in metropolitan areas, according to the
What is most alarming are that these barriers only exacerbate the risk factors for mental health and social isolation for rural Americans. According to Pepnet 2, a national collaboration of four regional postsecondary education centers, the impact of mental health disorders for the deaf and hard of hearing communities in rural areas is more severe than in urban areas due to issues of:
? Accessibility. This is a result from lack of transportation to and from services, inability to pay for services and a shortage of interpreters.
? Availability. Of the 65 million
? Acceptability. Rural communities often hold more stigmatizing views about mental illness. The impact of this stigma is largely related to cultural beliefs and a lack of understanding about mental health issues.
To combat these issues, organizations that believe that everyone should have equal access to mental healthcare, like
Take a moment to educate yourself on the issues that those who are deaf or hard of hearing face when it comes to obtaining quality healthcare. Moreover, utilize the services that organizations like
For more information, visit acdhh.org.
Editor's note: