Meet the people we work with

We have assigned a fake name to this story to protect the individual’s identity. Arthur* has been receiving support from SignHealth’s outreach service in his home since 2013. Below, he talks about how having SignHealth’s … Continued

Jessie* was suicidal, depressed and self-harming. Her ex-partner was abusing her, and she felt she couldn’t escape. I am 22 years old and SignHealth’s Domestic Abuse Service (previously known as Young DeafHope) has been supporting … Continued

Charis navigated most of her life without her deaf diagnosis. This meant she struggled. When she reached out for support with anxiety, she wishes she had a deaf professional she could have turned to.  Charis … Continued

When Harriet went to university she began experiencing anxiety. At the same time, her hearing deteriorated. She shares her journey with mental health and how her new deaf friends helped her to find her deaf … Continued

When Lucy joined university, she realised that she had to work so much harder than everyone else. A lack of access and communication support made her university experience very different from her hearing peers. It … Continued

Beth felt isolated, especially during Covid-19 lockdowns. The isolation really affected her mental health. She reached out for support from deaf services but they weren’t available where she lived.   Beth is 24 years old. She … Continued

This is Rachel’s story of poor access to healthcare during her first pregnancy. Will she have more access this time? This week is maternal mental health awareness week. Like Rachel, many pregnant deaf people face … Continued

Simon is a GP who approached us to find out how he can support SignHealth’s campaigns for better access to the NHS for deaf people. Here he shares his perspective as a GP on the … Continued

Beatrice was 84 years old, profoundly Deaf and infirm. She had lived on her own since her husband and son died.  One day Beatrice fell after turning on the TV. She lay on the floor … Continued