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Numerous studies have shown that deaf individuals are at a significantly higher risk of mental health issues. Psychological disorders such as depression and anxiety are twice as common among deaf individuals compared to their hearing peers (Steinberg et al., 1998). The primary reasons for this include social isolation, discrimination and a lack of accessible mental health support. Many deaf individuals are unaware of the availability of mental health services or hesitant to seek professional help. One of the main barriers is that most mental health services are designed for hearing individuals and are not provided in sign language. This significantly limits deaf individuals' access to psychological support and awareness of mental well-being (Kushalnagar et al., 2020).
The SignWell Academy - Psychological Literacy for the Deaf Community Project is an innovative adult education project designed to enhance psychological literacy among deaf individuals. As part of the Project, the Psychological Literacy Training Program for the Deaf Community will be developed as an accessible and culturally inclusive learning program tailored to the specific needs of deaf individuals. Fundamental topics such as mental health awareness, stress management and emotional resilience will be delivered in sign language to ensure that deaf individuals gain the knowledge they need to better understand and care for their mental well-being. By removing barriers to seeking psychological support, the Project will empower deaf individuals to express themselves more effectively and strengthen their psychological resilience.
The SignWell Academy E-Learning Materials, consisting of sign language-based educational videos and digital resources, will be developed in alignment with the learning outcomes of the Program. We will develop SignWell Academy E-Learning Portal to provide deaf individuals with flexible access to all content and allow them to learn at their own pace. This will ensure continuous engagement with mental health education and create a long-term impact. Moreover, by offering free access, the Portal will strengthen both the sustainability and inclusivity of mental health education for the Deaf community.
For all these reasons, the Project is linked to the Erasmus+ horizontal priority of “Inclusion and diversity in all fields of education, training, youth and sport” and the adult education priority of “Increasing take-up and improving inclusiveness and accessibility of adult education”.