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A common experience | Schizophrenia | Contacts and links

A common experience

About 25% of all young people suffer mental-health problems such as anxiety, depression and phobias. And deaf young people face more pressures than most: as well as coping with stress about such things as family problems, exams, leaving home and finding a job, they are more likely to feel isolated and more likely to suffer forms of abuse, ranging from playground bullying to sexual abuse. So it’s no surprise that the percentage of deaf young people with mental health problems is higher – in fact double the figure for young people as a whole.

If you suffer from anxiety or depression, your reality is that the world is a frightening and miserable place. But remember that these are treatable conditions. In VEE-TV, Sarah talked about dealing with schizophrenia, a severe mental illness, but professional help is available for any mental health problem – from phobias and eating disorders to suicidal feelings. If you feel that you, or anyone you know, may need help, ask your GP for a referral or contact one of the organisations listed at the end of this page.

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia has got nothing to do with 'split personality'. The common misconception comes from the fact that the word 'schizophrenia' was coined from two Greek words: schizein, meaning 'to split' and phren, meaning 'mind'. But the word was intended to refer not to split personality but to the fact that with this condition processes of thought, feeling and intention, guiding a person's actions, are no longer interacting to form a coherent whole.

The second and perhaps still more damaging misconception about schizophrenia is that sufferers are dangerous. However, violence is not a symptom of schizophrenia, and only at times of acute crisis do levels of violence among people with schizophrenia outstrip those of the general public.

But schizophrenia is a serious condition and represents a big risk for sufferers themselves. It can cause intense depression, disturbed behaviour and delusional beliefs. During a crisis, a person with schizophrenia may lose touch with reality, see or hear things that are not there and act in unusual ways in response to these hallucinations.

Schizophrenia is treatable, but the medication used for controlling it has unpleasant side-effects and many people find it hard to keep taking it. However, there is hope that improved drugs with better results and fewer side-effects will be available in the future.

Schizophrenia can affect men and women from all countries, cultures, backgrounds and walks of life. About 1 in 100 people have one episode, and two-thirds of these go on to have further episodes. Schizophrenia usually starts in the late teens or early twenties, but can also appear for the first time in later years, particularly among elderly women leading an isolated life.

Sarah’s schizophrenia first occurred while she was at Bristol University, studying deaf history and feeling stressed. She believes that there should be greater publicity about the illness, and finds it hard that some of her friends don’t want to talk about it. Her aim is to work in the field of mental health herself.

Contacts and links

For more information about eating disorders, see the feature on this website.

The National Deaf Mental Health Service covers a third of the UK. Referrals are by GP or consultant psychiatrist only. The following organisations can also provide information, advice or support:

Channel 4 Health: Mind
www.channel4.com/health/mind
A wide range of information about mental health including articles on depression and schizophrenia, plus the facility to consult trained advisers online, in complete confidence.

British Deaf Association Health and Counselling Services
9 Springfield Street
Warrington
Cheshire WA1 1BB
Voice: 01925 652520 (10am–4pm daily)
Textphone: 01925 652529 (10am–4pm daily and Wednesday 7–10pm)
Fax: 01925 652526
E-mail: bda6@dircon.co.uk
Website: www.bda.org.uk
General advisory helpline for information, advice and guidance. Also offer health and counselling services throughout the UK.

British Society for Mental Health and Deafness
High Trees
Springfield Hospital
61 Glenburnie Road
London SW17 7DJ
Voice: 020 8682 6991
Textphone: 020 8682 6950
Fax: 020 8682 6461
E-mail: ajohnson@swlstg-tr.nhs.uk
Contact for information on services and advice plus details of training programmes for deaf and hearing people in mental health and deafness.

Sign (National Society for Mental Health and Deafness)
13 Station Road
Beaconsfield
Bucks HP9 1YP
Voice/text: 01494 816 777
Fax: 01494 812 555
E-mail: info@signcharity.org.uk
Website: www.signcharity.org.uk
Head office for clubs based in London, Manchester, Leeds and Buckinghamshire. Contact for information about services and campaigns.

Fellowship of Depressives Anonymous
Box FDA
Self Help Nottingham
Ormiston House
32-36 Pelham Street
Nottingham NG1 2EG
Tel: 01702 433838
Fax: 01702 433843
E-mail: fdainfo@aol.com
Support for those suffering from depression on a self/mutual-help basis. Publishes a newsletter, runs a pen-friend scheme and encourages the formation of local groups.

The Mental Health Foundation
20–21 Cornwall Terrace
London NW1 4QL
Information: 020 7535 7420
Website: www.mentalhealth.org.uk
Provides a series of free booklets on eating disorders, depression and anxiety which are also available on the website.

MIND (National Association for Mental Health)
Information Department
Granta House
15-19 Broadway
London E15 4BQ
Info line: 08457 660163 (Monday to Friday, 9.15am–4.45pm; Typetalk available)
Fax: 020 8522 1725
E-mail: contact@mind.org.uk
Website: www.mind.org.uk
Information and support for people with mental health problems, their families and friends. Contact for details of your local group and for free Deafness and Mental Health factsheet, available by post and on the website.

SANE
1st Floor
Cityside House
40 Adler Street
London E1 1EE
SANELINE: 0845 767 8000
Fax: 020 7375 2162
E-mail: london@sane.org.uk
Website www.sane.org.uk
Charity concerned with improving the life of everyone affected by mental illness

Young Minds
102–108 Clerkenwell Road
London EC1M 5SA
Tel: 020 7336 8445
Fax: 020 7336 8446
Helpline: 0800 018 2138 (Monday and Friday, 10am–1pm; Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 1pm–4pm)
Website: www.youngminds.org.uk
Information about a range of mental-health issues affecting young people. Contact for details of local and national advice services and a range of free leaflets.

Youth Access
1–2 Taylor's Yard
67 Alderbrook Road
London SW12 8AD
Tel: 020 8772 9900 (Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm; 24–hour answerphone service)
Fax: 020 8772 9746
E-mail: admin@youthaccess.org.uk
Provides a nationwide referral service to local youth advice and counselling services.