Deafness and Mental Health Statewide Consultation and Liaison Service connects Deaf and hard of hearing people with culturally affirmative, accessible and inclusive mental health care throughout Queensland.
This is achieved through:
providing education and training
supporting mental health clinical staff and other service providers
support for Deaf and hard of hearing mental health consumers
the development of prevention strategies
providing consultation services.
In Australia:
1 in 6 people experience some degree of hearing loss
the signing Deaf community is estimated to be between 6,500 and 15,400 people
up to 70% of adult Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have hearing problems and Deafness, often related to poorly managed childhood infections.
This is the only government service of its kind in Australia.