Resources

A Preliminary Investigation of the Mental Health of Young Deaf West Australians

Recent reports show that mental health is one of the most significant issues facing Australian children and adolescents today. Mental health problems are more prevalent than obesity, asthma, child abuse, diabetes and cancer. It has been suggested that there is an increase in Australian children and adolescents suffering poor mental health, with depression, suicide and behavioural disorders on the rise. Australian and international studies suggest that almost 1 in 2 deaf children and adolescents may be experiencing, or at risk of developing, significant mental health problems.

The Melbourne Graduate School of Education at The University of Melbourne funded a pilot study to survey the mental health of a small sample of the West Australian child and adolescent deaf population. The findings of this study are presented in the report “A Preliminary Investigation of the Mental Health of Young Deaf West Australians”. The purpose of this report is to inform and provide a current context to State and Federal government agencies and professionals and organisations working with young deaf people.

I hope you find this report of interest and you are welcome to share this with your colleagues and others who may have an interest. If you have any queries regarding the report, or would like a hard copy version, please do not hesitate to get in touch with me via email or at the address below.

Dr Maria Remine, PhD MAPS
Melbourne Graduate School of Education
The University of Melbourne
VIC 3010 Australia

Working with clients who are deaf or have a hearing loss

This is the link to the PA Hospital guidelines for working with deafness and mental health.  The guidlines are designed to provide information relevant across the whole spectrum of deafness and hearing loss.  It includes tips and facts sheets and contact details for further support and sourcing Sign Language interpreters.

Research on outcomes for children with a permanent hearing loss

Queensland Healthy Hearing Website has an exceptional document titled "A Systematic Review of the Literature on Early Intervention for Children with a Permanent Hearing Loss".  This resource is a high quality literature review of more than 400 pages of research into outcomes internationally.

Working with Sign Language interpreters 

The Australian Sign Language Interpreters Assocation is valuable resource for people working with interpreters.  They have an excellent set of guidelines for interpreting in mental health settings.

Hearing loss resources

Australian Hearing provides an excellent website for support, educaiton, information and resources for people with a hearing loss across the lifespan.

Information and resources on the social outcomes of mild to moderate hearing loss and auditory processing problems: