Cultural and linguistic barriers to mental health service access: the deaf consumer's perspective.
OBJECTIVE
The authors investigated knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about mental illness and providers held by a group of deaf adults.


METHODS
The American Sign Language interviews of 54 deaf adults were analyzed.


RESULTS
Recurrent themes included mistrust of providers, communication difficulty as a primary cause of mental health problems, profound concern with communication in therapy, and widespread ignorance about how to obtain services.


CONCLUSIONS
Deaf consumers' views need due consideration in service delivery planning. Outreach regarding existing programs is essential.
Steinberg
A G
AG
Department of Psychiatry, Child Guidance Center of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, PA, USA. drannie@mail.med.upenn.edu
Sullivan
V J
VJ
Loew
R C
RC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003144:Communication Barriers; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003638:Deafness / Q000523:psychology*; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009626:Terminology as Topic