According to the Irish Deaf Society, the statistics on the Deaf community are scarce. What little evidence they have leads to inaccuracies. Data from the statistics office reports 103,000 people identifying as Deaf or hard of hearing in Ireland. However, the Deaf Society disclaims that not all of these people might use sign language or identify with the Deaf community.

Now, because of the availability of statistics, this begs the position of the Deaf community in Ireland. How would the governing bodies provide public services like adequate healthcare? Healthcare is a right for everyone, regardless of their background. This post will explore the gaps in healthcare for the Deaf community and the steps taken towards improving mental health services for the Deaf in Ireland. 

Irish Sign Language

Irish Sign Language (ISL) is the language of the Deaf community in the Republic of and Northern Ireland. It is the preferred language of over 5,000 Deaf Irish people, but some also use BSL (British Sign Language). Like other sign languages, it has a distinct grammar and a complex system of finger signs and gestures. Rather than seeing themselves as disabled, the Irish Deaf consider themselves a linguistic minority, according to the Irish Deaf Society. 

ISL is closely related to French Sign Language but has some influence from BSL. The uniqueness of ISL that is not in other Sign Languages is the gendered versions of the language because men and women have separate sign language schools. 

The first Deaf school in Ireland opened in 1816, and during that time, Ireland was still part of the UK, which is why BSL influenced ISL in one way or another. But also, because of the religious society in Ireland, oralism ended up being heavily enforced in the late 1800s. Oralism hurt the Deaf community by robbing them of their linguistic identity. Essentially, Catholicism and Protestantism suppressed Sign Language and stigmatized the Deaf community during this time of religious conflicts.

The legislation for ISL to become an official language in 2017, and finally, in 2020, it became established thanks to President Michael D. Higgins. The act required ISL to be present in education and public services for the Deaf community to have greater access to basic needs. 

How Irish Society Views Mental Health

Photo by Cottonbro Studio

Society is gradually improving with understanding and accepting that human beings endure dark times because of internal and external factors. These things can adversely affect how they function as people and contribute to the world. Although there are improvements, governing bodies and public services still have a stigma against people with these issues. They could negatively view them, such as making them feel ashamed, burdensome, or worthless.

In Ireland, mental health issues are prevalent in adults. This difference also stems from socioeconomic backgrounds. People who received higher education vs. the working class experienced more mental health issues and thoughts of self-harm than the latter. The report by Epidemiol Psychiatric Science concluded that mental health issues are higher in Ireland than the international average. 

The mental health stigma faced by the hearing community is what the Deaf community faces. However, for the Deaf community, it might be even worse. As a minority community, the Deaf community experiences alienation, even in Ireland. It is detrimental, even to mental health, which requires immediate attention for the journey to recovery. 

The Healthcare System in Ireland

Photo by Pixabay

Ireland has a dual healthcare system, meaning citizens can choose between private and public healthcare. The Department of Health regulates the healthcare system, and the HSE organizes it. On average, the system in Ireland is better than most of Europe. People in Ireland live longer because of the top-notch facilities. 

The National Coalition organization of Ireland reports that hard of hearing or profoundly Deaf people, at least 40%, will develop some a mental health issue. Why are Deaf people more prone to mental health issues than hearing people? 

Well, different reasons like learning disabilities, the lack of one sense, difficulties in development like social and emotional, abuse, and misdiagnosis. The reports published by the Mental Health and Deafness Services in Ireland also show that the diagnosis of people with psychosis is also becoming a problem. 

Accessibility of Healthcare Services

The HSE Universal Healthcare implemented policies for healthcare workers before the government recognized ISL. They stated that mental health professionals should train to treat Deaf patients properly or recommend them to the appropriate channel for treatment.

Pilot Program for Reform

In 2005, Vision of Change established a pilot program between DeafHear and the HSE, which collaborates to assist inpatients and the Deaf community. The report published in 2015 showed the statistics for the Deaf patient intake was a little over 300, with 162 Deaf patients successfully discharged from mental healthcare. However, since 2015, the pilot program never reached its full potential, even after operating for ten years. There are several reasons, such as lack of staffing, resources, and accessibility issues. 

Since 2015, there has been more awareness and push to close the gaps between the provider and Deaf patients. 

As of last year, ISL is readily available in healthcare services to the Deaf community. The Telegraph, Belfast, reports a new service that provides free interpretation services remotely or in-person for various healthcare appointments. It is for patients who are Deaf, hard of hearing, blind, or other impairments. Before this new service, there was little organization and no centralized interpretation services for the Deaf. Each operated differently based on the provider, creating a lot of mess and imbalance.

With this program, the service is more sustainable and has better quality for patients. It supports communication between the Deaf patient and doctor, which can minimize miscommunication that leads to misdiagnoses. In addition to that, it also gives the patient some autonomy with their own healthcare needs. 

Mental Health Facilities for the Deaf

While healthcare is steadily improving for the Deaf Irish community, there are still some faults, especially with the data to improve treatment and prevention. The reports on the Deaf community are not readily available. That’s especially true for the data regarding mental health, from adolescents to adults. Deaf children are 21% more likely to experience psychological issues than hearing children. According to Queens University Research in Belfast, issues with emotional well-being stem from the physical environment, social, cultural, and communication. 

Due to these findings on emotional well-being in the Deaf community, The Health and Social Care Trust set up an intervention program to improve and support the emotional well-being of the Deaf community. Northern Ireland now has a specialist service for mental health for ages 18 and older. The team working on this service offers patients a pre-assessment to determine the best approach for their treatment. In addition, they have clinics located regionally and can do home visits for the patient’s convenience. 

Mental health services for the Deaf in Ireland have evolved. With the National Advocacy Services for People with Disabilities and HSE Mental Health Services. The Irish government is implementing solutions to support minority communities. If you want to learn more about mental health accessibility for the Deaf community, visit https://www.unspokenasl.com/

Photo Credit to: Photo by Lukas Kloeppel