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Deafness and Mental Health Service

A Centre Of Excellence - Statewide Consultative Service for Consumers who are Deaf or Hearing Impaired

For referrals, please contact the service by: Phone: 07 3167 8430 Fax: 07 3167 8377 TTY: 07 3167 8488 Mob: 0419 023 883 Links for QH Staff Hospital Communication Kit

Auslan translation of this page

The Princess Alexandra Hospital Division of Mental Health, working in partnership with specialist agencies, developed a Centre of Excellence for Deaf and hard of hearing people which was launched in November 2004. As a Centre of Excellence, the PAHBSD Division of Mental Health offers a state-wide mental health consultation service that strives to ensure that appropriate and accessible mental health care is provided to people in Queensland who are Deaf or who have a hearing loss via face to face consultation or by video conference.

The service is the first of its kind in Australia and also offers an extensive set of resources and training to assist mental health professionals to provide appropriate, accessible and equitable care to this group.

Our Vision

Improving Mental Health Access and Outcomes for People Who are Deaf or have a Hearing Loss

Our Mission

The Deaf Mental Health Team will assist people who are Deaf or have a hearing loss to access culturally affirmative and inclusive mental health care and treatment through:

•  Education
•  Support of Clinical Staff
•  Support of Clients
•  Prevention Strategies
•  Consultation

These initiatives are aligned with the priority areas identified within the Queensland Mental Health Plan 2007-2017.

Background facts

• 10 -16% of the Australian population experience hearing loss in 2005- 2006
  (Access Economics, February 2006)
• The prevalence of hearing loss is expected increase to 1 in 4 of every Australian by 2050
  (Access Economics, February 2006)
• 1 in 5 Australians will experience a mental illness at some point in their life, a quarter of whom will receive treatment.
  (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 1999)
• “Over three million Australians are affected by some degree of hearing loss”
  (Access Economics, February 2006)
• 800,000 deaf and hard of hearing Australians may also experience mental health problems at some time in their life.

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Auslan Translation

Link to MP4 file (right click and select "download file" or "save target as")

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