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Mental Health and Deafness - Towards Equity and Access : Best Practice Guidance

  • Document type:
    Publication
  • Author:
    Department of Health
  • Published date:
    22 February 2005
  • Primary audience:
    Professionals
  • Publication format:
    Electronic only
  • Gateway reference:
    4054
  • Pages:
    34
  • Copyright holder:
    Crown

Response to the consultation Sign of the Times, dated July 2002

In July 2002, the Department of Health launched a consultation document entitled Sign of the Times. It was focused on Deaf people who used sign language (predominantly British Sign Langauge) and considered how well their mental health needs were being met. The standards in the National Service Framework for Mental Health were used as a template.

The response to the consultation document was positive and enthusiastic. Many welcomed a focus on what they perceived to be a neglected area and service providers, advocates and users worked closely together to produce a considerable number of well-considered responses. Some responses came from a number of organisations working together and others were summaries of a group discussion, so it was not possible to know how many people were involved in the process. A list of respondents is provided as Appendix C.

The purpose of this document is threefold

  • to build on the ideas put forward in the original consultation (itself the result of discussions with a wide range of interested parties;
  • reflect on the feedback provided during the consultation and to report on progress that has been made since.
  • provide advice on ways to promote mental health and improve services for people who are deaf.

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