In April this year, Daniel MJ Webster a young popular Deaf man ended his life. He was married with a young family.

This tragedy could have been avoided with a simple low-cost intervention from the NHS.

Daniel’s doctor asked for help, he requested a Deaf focused therapist using British sign language for Daniel, however, this was declined by the local regional NHS. (CCG)

Specialist Deaf focused counselling organisations work with over half of the NHS regions in England. They provide BSL counselling without using interpreters. The NHS regions who do not offer BSL counsellors use an interpreter with a counsellor. In general hearing counsellors do not understand the specific issues faced by Deaf people.

Interpreted counselling involves a counsellor and interpreter in the room with the Deaf person as they talk about deeply personal issues. Many Deaf people give up after a few sessions because communication becomes difficult.

There is an increasing number of Deaf people asking for NHS funded Deaf focused, BSL counselling, they report suicidal thoughts. Many of these people have tried interpreted counselling which was not suitable for them.

The Daniel MJ Webster Deaf Mental Health Fund aims to raise £50,000 to pay for Deaf focused therapy using British Sign Language in regions of the UK that will not pay for therapy using counsellors who are able to use BSL and understand the issues faced being Deaf.

£50,000 will pay for 278 Deaf people to have 6 sessions of urgent potentially life-saving counselling.

What will the funds be used for?

• Deaf people who require immediate assistance due to end of life risk

• Deaf people who have been declined Deaf focused NHS counselling using BSL as the first language in one to one sessions & the person has an end of life risk

• Deaf People who have severe mental health disorders and cannot obtain Deaf therapist BSL counselling from the NHS

• Deaf People who have experienced extreme trauma and cannot obtain Deaf therapist BSL counselling with the NHS

Deaf people belong in a small cultural linguistic world where there are issues around Abuse, Isolation, Discrimination & Emotional Dis-regulation.

In the Deaf Community, it is reported that 1in 2 people suffer from Mental Health Disorders.

Many Deaf people are isolated with little or no hope, most are unemployed with no income, many do not see their doctors because of communication problems and many more are no longer registered with their doctor.

Deaf Counselling organisations such as Deaf4Deaf has an increasing waiting list of Deaf people with severe mental health issues, these people are from NHS regions that will not fund Deaf therapist counselling for the Deaf community in their first language of BSL.

Deaf4Deaf and the family of Daniel MJ Webster need your help to raise awareness and money to pay for urgent Deaf therapist BSL counselling.

Deaf4Deaf and Daniels family would also like to thank a Deaf Actor who has donated a large sum of money, this has meant some people have already started potentially life-saving BSL counselling free of charge.

Deaf4Deaf would also like to thanks Daniels father who put away 1k to go towards a trip for him to watch the rugby world cup. He has donated the total 1k to this fund.