About Us

Mental Health for Deaf People

 The British Society for Mental Health and Deafness (BSMHD) is unique in the UK as it is the only UK charity that focuses entirely on the promotion of the positive mental health of deaf people.

Mental health includes healthy emotional, psychological and social development, the prevention and treatment of mental illness and other disorders. Although the main focus is on those who’s first or preferred language is sign language, BSMHD is interested in the mental health of all deaf people, whatever their language preference, age of onset or degree of deafness.

Deaf people who are British Sign Language users are almost twice as likely to have mental health issues compared with the general population (40% against 25%). In addition, people with mental health and deafness issues (multiple needs) often face marginalisation from mainstream society. There is a great deal of stigma attached to mental health in the Deaf community, thus leading to isolation and loneliness in a close knit community. Through delivery of training courses and dissemination of information, BSMHD are actively working to reduce this stigma throughout the UK.

Trustees:

Herbert Klein - Honorary President
Dr Katherine Rogers - Chair
Dr Kevin Baker
Shirley Farthing
Carolyn Denmark
David Rose
Christopher Reid
Rubenna Aurangzeb-Tariq

Herbert Klein has won Mental Health BDA award

Herbert Klein our President is the recipient of the BDA's Frances Maginn Award.

Contact Us:

BSMHD
c/o Self Help UK
21-23 Pelham Road
Nottingham
NG5 1AP

Email: info@bsmhd.org.uk