Did you know?

•    Research has shown that 40% of Deaf children have some kind of mental health problem, compared to 25% of hearing children
•    Deaf people spend roughly twice as long in hospital or in prison
•    While it is generally known that deaf people have the same range of mental health problems as hearing people, the incidence of mental illness amongst deaf people is estimated to be about 4 times greater than in the general population. It is also important to recognise that deafness may present special problems in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness; because of poor communication mental illness may go unrecognised in deaf people or mental impairment may remain undiagnosed

 These staggering statistics confirm the need for the Department of Health Document, ‘Towards Equity and Access’. This document is best practise guidance for the NHS and makes a number of recommendations to the NHS to improve services. Cumbria Deaf Association alongside the different NHS Trusts in Cumbria and Cumbria County Council have joined forces to implement these recommendations.

Mental Health services within Cumbria are provided by Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

They provide a range of health care services throughout Cumbria:

•     Mental Health Services
•     Substance Misuse Services
•     Learning Disabilities and Young Peoples Services
•     Condition Management Services

In the majority of circumstances referral is made via your GP.

Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust has adopted the Deaf Mental Health Charter developed by Signhealth, which is aimed at promoting the mental well being and rights of deaf people by reducing barriers to services.

The Charter is for anyone involved in health, mental health or social care. 

Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust has produced a number of useful information leaflets on mental health problems, your rights as a patient or carer and self help information as well as a number of other publications. For a list, click here 

For more information on the services of Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, contact:

Cumbria Partnership NHS FoundationTrust
The Carleton Clinic
Cumwhinton Drive
Carlisle
CA1 3SX
Tel: 01228 602000
Fax: 01228 602550
e-mail: This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
http://www.cumbriapartnership.nhs.uk

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Links and Information

Patients Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)
For information, advice or help with any concerns
PALS, The Carleton Clinic
Cumwhinton Drive
Carlisle
CA1 3SX
Freephone: 0800 633 55 47

Tel/Fax: 01228 602857
e-mail: This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

http://www.deafinfo.org.uk/services/pals.html (with video clip)

Deaf Info

A central place for information about deaf mental health 

For direct link please click here 

British Society of Mental Health and Deafness

Promoting healthy deaf minds

For direct link please click here 

    For a direct link please click here

Forest Books

Specialists in books, videos, DVD CD-ROMs and software on Sign language, Deafness and Deaf issues including information on mental health.

http://www.forestbooks.com/pages/ 

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