Mental Health Service for Deaf People

Question 1

Where is SMHSDP based?

Answer 1

St John’s Hospital in Livingston

Question 2

What medical staff are in SMHSDP?

Answer 2

Part time psychiatrist, 1.5 ANP, half day of OT and interpreters are booked as required

Question 3

Describe mental health and deafness

Answer 3

Higher rates of depression and anxiety
Difficulty around diagnosis of condition or assessment of needs
Often misdiagnosed as learning disability

Question 4

What is the length of stay of a deaf inpatient to a hearing inpatient?

Answer 4

Length of stay is twice that of hearing
40-50% are up to 12 months vs 2 months
50% of deaf patients are delayed discharge

Question 5

What are auditory hallucinations?

Answer 5

Can hear voice even though deaf
Can really see someone signing to them when experiencing voices

Question 6

What needs to be considered when assessing a deaf patient?

Answer 6

Communication needs, environment light, questions, assessment tools, time and body language

Question 7

What is assed in the mini mental state?

Answer 7

Attention and calculation
Recall
Language
Copying