1. Maximising well being:  addressing the health inequalities faced by Deaf people
Jac Ross, Equality and Human Rights Manager
Paul Hull
Health Improvement Officer Mental Health an Deafness
Intro me and paul

2. Cover today The connection between discrimination and poor health
What does discrimination and poor access mean for Deaf people
How does it impact on their mental health 
What can be done to offset this from society to the individual?
Promoting good mental health
The connection between discrimination and poor health is well described in relation to many groups.  What does discrimination and poor access mean for Deaf people and how does it impact on their mental health.  What can be done to offset this experience and what does the Deaf community say about what we should do to make services accessible. 

3. Minority group or groups in small numbers replace this with Deaf Stress
The first stage of minority stress theory holds that being in a minority group is associated with increased exposure to stressors, such as prejudice and discrimination. Indeed, despite significant improvement over the past several decades, numerous studies have confirmed that minority individuals continue to face high rates of distal stressors. Assumptions of abilities, names, social isolation
What does this mean? Second stage when expossed to disc and prejudice
internal processes that are presumed to occur following exposure to discrimination and prejudice include fear of rejection, Shame, poor self esteem, self worth. Not value yourself for who you are.

4. Discrimination and poor access for Deaf people
Exclusion from work
Income inequality / poverty
Restricted access to housing
Restricted access to education
Poor health / higher mortality rate
Hate Crime
What does this mean in reality?

5. Look at Deafness and mental health as an example
Paul will now go through these ideas.
Paul introduce self and job

6. Deafness and Mental Health
Lack of accessible health information in BSL leads to poor knowledge about mental health
Lack of access to informal information
Communication with mental health staff is problematic
Understanding language of mental health
Lack of understanding of deaf culture in staff
First thing to say is that these are the barriers described by Deaf people

8. What creates good health?
Jackie slide from the main presentation showed us the different level that impact on whether our health is good or not – next slide shows an exercise

9. Take 5 minutes to think about the issues Then group discussion about

10. ...by the NHS, HSCPs, the voluntary sector.
What can be done to impact positively on the health of Deaf people at a:-
Society level
Community level
Individual level
...by the NHS, HSCPs, the voluntary sector.
Paul ask people to contribute to ideas – Jac flip chart (15 mins)
Society:
Legislation makes postive impact for Deaf people - BSL Act…promotes the language, Equality Act…ensure rights of access. Anything else?
Community: good social networks means good health..does Deaf commity have this within the commiunity what about with hearing people
Family: isolation within families are there good things that would promote good health?
Individual: targetted work, improived access to informaiton any other examples?
3 clear questions – who does what govt do HSCP?

11. Possible solutions are:
Implement the BSL Act
Modify laws in governmental level to meet Deaf person’s employment needs.
Use equitable partnerships to include Deaf people in health and mental health research
Create and implement health information materials that are truly accessible to deaf people
Educate and employ Deaf people in the public health world
Heres some ideas we prepared earlier

12. Our action plan to promote positive mental health
To finsih – ideas of what we are doing on mental health…

13. Promotion of well being with Deaf people
Improved health literacy
Reduce stigma - films
Improve access - posters
Asset building

14. Improve social capital - champions
Challenge poor access with support from the 3rd sector
Work with our staff
Continuous improvement with Interpreting Service.

15. Any questions?