SignHealth

Every day, thousands of deaf people in the UK face barriers to accessing healthcare services. Appointments without British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters. Young children asked to translate medical information for their mum. Medication is provided with no understanding of what it is for, or how to take it safely.

The impact of the lack of access for deaf people? Diagnoses missed, symptoms misunderstood, help delayed. These barriers don’t just cause frustration — they are costing deaf people their health and, in some cases, their lives.

At SignHealth, we know deaf people are more likely to experience poor mental health, domestic abuse, and long-term illness, yet are less likely to receive timely, effective support. Not because their needs are greater, but because, so often, the system fails to communicate.

That’s why SignHealth exists. We are the UK’s only deaf-led charity that focuses on improving health for deaf people. We do this through providing direct services such as psychological therapy, domestic abuse support, and children and young people’s services. These services are designed and delivered by deaf people, for deaf people.

We also work to improve mainstream health services to be more accessible through sharing information, encouraging deaf people to be involved in shaping services and supporting change.

Every hour of the day, someone at SignHealth is working to make sure deaf people receive the support they need. We can only do this with your support. Donating to SignHealth creates a future where there are no barriers to good health and wellbeing for all deaf people.

I am honoured to present the BBC Lifeline programme for SignHealth, the deaf health charity. SignHealth is a charity that is close to my heart.

I learned BSL as a teenager after my dad lost his hearing following chemotherapy treatment. That experience showed me the importance of accessible communication to health services for deaf people, which is exactly what SignHealth works to provide.

For 40 years, SignHealth have supported deaf people to access healthcare and mental health services, whether they use British Sign Language or have other access needs.

Through this experience, Lucindha, Jackie and Jacob have shared their experiences of navigating health as a deaf person. They also share how SignHealth has made a difference to their lives. Their stories are real and powerful.

With your support, SignHealth will make sure that all deaf people don’t need to navigate barriers to healthcare alone.

Lucindha is 34 and is profoundly deaf. She knows too well the devastating impact that barriers to mental health services can have on deaf people.

In 2016, Lucinda lost her brother, Wishu, to suicide. She is sharing their story in his memory. Wishu, who was also deaf, was a wonderful, caring and funny man. Underneath, he really struggled with depression.

Wishu reached out for help and was offered some counselling services. But it was with a mainstream counselling service, and after some time, his mental health deteriorated.

When Wishu died, Lucindha was devastated. She found out about SignHealth and reached out for help. Lucindha was matched with a deaf therapist to help her through her grief.

“SignHealth’s therapy sessions helped me process my grief and deal with my emotional issues. The therapist was deaf so I could fully express myself and connect with them. The therapy really benefited my mental health.”

Deaf people are two times more likely to experience abuse. Jackie, is one of the real women behind that statistic. Jackie feels like she experienced emotional abuse from her husband. He controlled her finances, isolated her from her friends, and limited when she could leave the house. Jackie felt he had a temper, which made Jackie walk on eggshells in her own home.

Jackie didn’t feel safe, and she knew she needed help.

Fear of navigating a mainstream service can be a huge barrier to seeking help and keeps deaf people in abusive relationships.

Luckily, Jackie knew about SignHealth’s domestic abuse services. She reached out via their website. She was matched with an Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA), who was deaf themselves. With her IDVA’s support, Jackie was able to navigate housing and the police and get to safety. She was taken to safety.

For Jacob, who is 15, being the only deaf person in his secondary school was a really isolating experience. He was different from everyone, often left out and faced bullying.While Jacob’s teachers and parents are very supportive, he needed an opportunity to connect with friends his own age. Jacob’s parents reached out to SignHealth for support.

Today, Jacob is an active member of SignHealth’s Young People’s Advisory Board (YAB). Through this, he has connected with other deaf young people, and they use their experience to shape the delivery of accessible services for deaf young people.

“The advisory board is the first friends I have had. They understand me because they are deaf themselves. They can understand the problems I am going through, and we can talk about it.

Without SignHealth and the YAB, I wouldn’t be as confident. Now I know they have always got my back.”