Cultural and Linguistic Barriers to Mental Health Service Access: The Deaf Consumer's Perspective

Abstract
The authors investigated knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about mental illness and providers held by a group of deaf adults. The American Sign Language interviews of 54 deaf adults were analyzed. Recurrent themes included mistrust of providers, communication difficulty as a primary cause of mental health problems, profound concern with communication in therapy, and widespread ignorance about how to obtain services. Deaf consumers' views need due consideration in service delivery planning. Outreach regarding existing programs is essential.

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