Rose Ayling-Ellis Instagram – “The first research of its kind in 1994 found that 40% per cent of the deaf or hard of hearing population were affected by mental health issues, compared with 25% of the hearing population. Looking to the future, I would hope that health professionals across the country will take into consideration the needs of their deaf and hard of hearing patients in a way that reflects how we work in the national service. I’d like to see a better understanding of the assessments for deaf people, who are often misdiagnosed, and funding for deaf services that enables individuals to have a choice of treatment. I’d also like to see more focus on language, respecting people’s communication preferences, and using qualified interpreters, not trainees or communication support workers.” -Lenka Novakova #worldmentalhealthday 💕