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Breaking Barriers, Building Equity: Gender Mainstreaming Mental Health for the Deaf Community in Europe
"Ableist attitudes, gatekeepers, poor accessibility and lack of autonomy are the main issues that impact on D/deaf and disabled trans people’s access to healthcare."
-Nathan Gale, 2018
Introduction
Video Description: The YouTube logo is centered against a white wall in the background. A Black woman with a puffy ponytail is featured, wearing a white headband, a white polo shirt, and a black overshirt. She also has a green hearing aid and an orange ear mold.
European Countries
Did you know that Western Russia shares its borders with 44 countries in Europe? This highlights the significant geographical and cultural connections between Russia and its European neighbors.
Why does inequality impact gender mainstreaming in mental health? It affects women, gender fluid individuals, men, intersex people, non-binary people, and others in relation to deaf mental health. Further, the ability to collect data on race, in combination with other categories such as gender, class, sexual orientation and disability is a fundamental step towards exposing structural privilege and disadvantage. The collection of equality data is one of the key barriers to making race visible and tackling inequality (Pascoet N.d., 10).
What types of systemic oppression are faced by the deaf community in relation to mental health and gender mainstreaming?
Ableism, Racism, Sexism, and Audism
I advocate for gender equality to help improve the mental health of individuals who are deaf. It's important to understand that gender and communication barriers, along with societal stigmas, can make it harder for this community to access mental health services. I stress the need for gender mainstreaming in healthcare policies to ensure everyone, regardless of gender, can access mental health resources fairly. This approach aims to create an inclusive environment where people can seek help without fear of stigma or discrimination. Ultimately, this will lead to a more compassionate and accessible healthcare system for everyone.
Breaking Barriers, Building Equity: Gender Mainstreaming Mental Health for the Deaf Community in Europe
Breaking Barriers, Building Equity: Gender Mainstreaming Mental Health for the Deaf Community in Europe aims to support people who struggle with their mental health. It offers access to therapists, psychiatrists, and counselors to help prevent suicide and harm to others.
It is designed for individuals with disabilities to ensure equality and accessibility. Mental health problems are a major cause of disability worldwide. People living with mental health problems and psychosocial disability face stigma, discrimination, and a range of abuses of human rights including exclusion from work, community life, and even the right to make important decisions for themselves. (CBM 2025)
Deaf mental health gender mainstreaming faces stigma and societal barriers that limit access to services and acceptance. Many experience trauma, including domestic violence, which hinders their goals. Addressing these issues is vital for fostering inclusion and support.
References
Pascoet, Juile. 2019. "Intersectional discrimination in Europe: relevance, challenges and ways forward." The European Network Against Racism (ENAR), Brussels https://www.enar-eu.org/wp-content/uploads/intersectionality-report-final-2.pdf
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Christian Blind Mission. 2025. Community mental health: Promoting good mental health. Accessed May 15, 2025 https://cbm-global.org/what-we-do/community-mental-health
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Geology.com. 2025. Europe Maps - Click a Country. Accessed May 15, 2025 https://geology.com/world/europe-satellite-image.shtml
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