Here are frequently asked questions of the NDC | Help Team. Search by topic, or scroll through the archive. If you have a question, please ask us. Want to be alerted when new FAQs are posted? Join the NDC listserv.
FAQs About Mental Health and Well-Being
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Ask your state agency for referrals to mental health providers who have experience working with deaf people. To find your state agency, see the National Association of State Agencies of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (NASADHH) directory of state-by-state agencies serving deaf people.
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Contact nationwide mental health service providers such as the Deaf Counseling Center, National Deaf Therapy, or the Deaf Wellness Center.
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If you or someone you know is in a crisis that requires immediate assistance, individuals can reach out to any national hotline and use telecommunication relay services. The following is a list of crisis hotlines serving deaf individuals:
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National Deaf Domestic Violence Hotline is a partnership between the Abused Deaf Women’s Advocacy Services (ADWAS) and National Domestic Violence Hotline (NDVH) and answers videophone calls and emails 24/7. Deaf individuals can call 855-812-1001 or email NationalDeafHotline@adwas.org. If using a voice phone, you will be connected with an interpreter for the call.
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DeafLEAD is a non-profit agency that provides a 24/7 videophone and text-messaging crisis hotline for victims of crime. Deaf individuals can call via videophone to 321-800-3323 or text the word HAND to 839863 to be connected with a crisis counselor.
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Crisis Text Line is a 24/7 text-messaging support line for and has a partnership with Gallaudet University and the Deaf community. Deaf individuals can text the word DEAF to 741741 and be connected with a crisis counselor.
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Note: NDC does not endorse any specific agency, provider, or vendor of services and the information shared above should not be considered as such.
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NDC has several resources to encourage family support in mental health and building self-confidence:
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Seek support from deaf-centered mental health services.
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The Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center offers a list of resources on the topic of mental health, wellness, and social emotional development for deaf children and adolescents.
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The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) offers a resource page with advocacy information on obtaining culturally affirmative and linguistically accessible mental health services for deaf children.
For more information on challenges deaf individuals face with mental health care see NDC’s Mental Health & Well-Being page.
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The Mental Health Interpreter Training Project (MHIT) sponsors the Qualified Mental Health Interpreter (QMHI) training and certification program.
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The Rochester Institute of Technology offers a Certificate in Healthcare Interpreting (CHI) program that specializes in professional development for interpreters working in general healthcare environments.
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The Deaf Wellness Center (DWC) at the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) offers a Mental Health Interpreting Curriculum.
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The Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) has a Standard Practice Paper for interpreting in mental health settings.
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The CATIE Center houses the “Mental & Behavioral Health Interpreting Project” that includes resources and online training related to interpreting in these settings.
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Center for Atypical Language Interpreting (CALI) highlights several research studies on interpreting for deaf individuals in mental health settings. CALI also offers self-paced online training modules to learn more about working with deaf individuals with unique language needs.
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The National Council on Interpreting in Health Care (NCIHC) shares mental health resources for interpreting in these settings along with information on how interpreters can exercise self-care after interpreting in traumatic situations.