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Deaf support

About one in four hearing people are likely to have a mental health problem. For Deaf and hard of hearing people this figure is higher. This means that if you are Deaf and have mental health problems, you are not the only one, even though it might feel that way. You may feel worse because the staff who help you are likely to be hearing, and you may have difficulty understanding each other.

Mental health services

There are a lot of different mental health services in South Yorkshire. Most people will go to their GP first. Most GP surgeries can offer help for mental health problems, or will refer you to specialist mental health services.

Our South Yorkshire service for Deaf people with mental health needs is part of our specialist mental health services. These are for people with more serious mental health problems. We work with mental health teams to support the care and treatment for Deaf people. We also work with Deaf and hearing carers to support them in looking after their relatives with mental health problems.

All members of the team can sign in British Sign Language (BSL) and have experience of working with Deaf people who experience mental health problems.

We work with mental health teams, social services and voluntary organisations to support Deaf people with mental health problems. We will also help with assessments from a Deaf perspective to enable your needs to be met.

We will help you to do things in your life which help keep you physically and mentally healthy. These things may include:

  • being aware of the things in your life that make you feel good, and making some positive changes
  • exercise or sport
  • a healthy diet
  • having friends
  • talking to others about how you’re feeling, not just when things are bad
  • asking for support if you need it

Looking after your mental health is to do with every part of your life. Different things work for different people. We can try to help you to decide what’s best for you.

We will support you by promoting your Deaf identity, to help you feel better about yourself and to live and work as a valued member of the Deaf and wider communities.

If we are working with a non-signing professional, we will ask them to book an interpreter for communication.

We work with local mental health teams who will contact us if we are needed. Referrals can be made by your GP, sensory impairment team or your local Mental Health teams.

How to access help in a crisis

The emergencySMS service and the Relay UK service lets deaf, hard of hearing and speech impaired people in the UK send a text message to the UK 999 service where it will be passed to the police, ambulance, fire rescue, or coastguard.

Video call service to the emergency services at 999BSL.

An online British sign language interpreter can be arranged through NHS111 services

Deaf community

Deaf community groups that offer support, social connections, and resources for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Doncaster
Rotherham
  • Rotherham Deaf connections is a youth organisation that provides deaf children with a fully inclusive club with no communication barriers.
  • Rotherham Deaf Futures is a group of profoundly deaf people who support other members of the deaf community and champion deaf awareness in Rotherham
Sheffield

The Sheffield Deaf social club is a community group that meeting every fortnight on Wednesdays for bingo and Thursdays for over 50s.

Barnsley

The Barnsley Deaf community group is a Facebook group for the Deaf run by Lizzie Nicholson.

Wakefield

The Wakefield and District Society for Deaf People service is a specialised service concerned with the needs of deaf, deafblind and hearing impaired people throughout the Wakefield Metropolitan District.

Audiology

Audiology services provide assessment, treatment and advice for patients managing hearing and balance.

Children’s

Based at Sheffield Children’s Hospital, the Hearing (Audiology) service sees children to assess and manage their hearing and balance problems.

The National Deaf Children’s Society provide free expert support on childhood deafness.

Care and equipment support

If you have hearing loss that affects your daily life, there are services in your area that can provide:

  • advice, guidance and information
  • help people to become more independent
  • equipment or adaptations to the home
  • social work support for individuals and families

See below your local care and support services:

Page last reviewed: May 23, 2025
Next review due: May 23, 2026

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