Latest news with #deafAwareness
The Independent
22-05-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Lack of sign language interpreters ‘a threat to life', TikToker's inquest told
A lack of sign language interpreters for deaf people in medical need is a 'breach of human rights and a threat to life', an inquest has heard. Penelope Schofield, the senior coroner for West Sussex who is hearing the resumed inquest into the death of deaf TikTok star Imogen Nunn, said the phrase was used in a report she has received as various institutions struggle with a shortage of British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters. Ms Nunn died in Brighton on New Year's Day 2023 after taking a poisonous substance. The 25-year-old, who was born deaf, raised awareness of hearing and mental health issues on her social media accounts, which attracted more than 780,000 followers. On Thursday, the coroner – who had to adjourn the inquest at West Sussex Coroner's Court for two months because there were no BSL interpreters available to translate for two witnesses – called on the National Register of Communication Professionals working with Deaf and Deafblind People (NRCPD) to give an insight into the impact that failing to provide appropriate communication has on a deaf person. The coroner said: 'Following part of the evidence that we've heard, it became apparent that there was a shortage of BSL interpreters available at times when Immy was in crisis. 'It became apparent that this isn't just a local issue, that this is a national problem.' She added: 'It became very, very apparent to me that this shortage wasn't just unique to mental health cases, there were much wider implications.' Report author Theresa Thomas-Morton, the NRCPD chief executive who has 25 years experience as a registered sign language interpreter, told the inquest: 'I have been in situations where had I not been in that room, and had I not raised the alert because of something I've observed within a deaf person, because of that cultural and the socio-linguistic context that you work in as a sign language interpreter, there would have been a threat to life. 'There are certain nuances that as an interpreter you would pick up on. 'You certainly carry delegated risk as a sign language interpreter in those rooms, because you identify, perhaps, linguistic markers or cultural markers that can raise the alert to professionals that aren't used to working with deaf people or don't use British Sign Language – so that's where the risk is raised if there isn't a sign language interpreter in the room.' Various reports since 2014 have showed that deaf people experience significant health disparities and 'nothing really has changed' and the the deaf community still feels it is 'ignored'. Mrs Thomas-Morton said there may be 'isolated cases where trusts have really worked hard' to make a difference, but added: 'There are still inconsistencies in provision of interpreters in health appointments. 'There hasn't been significant improvement in terms of information regarding health or engagement with the deaf community around their health, or health improvements, or improving their lived outcomes.' More sign language interpreters and communication professionals are needed but there are also 'systemic issues' which make it difficult for interpreters to be assigned to bookings, 'especially at late notice and especially in a crisis situation', she said. Framework agreements and the contracts made with agencies that provide interpreters are among the issues standing in the way of provision being available when needed, the court heard. Pay and whether the interpreter is given adequate information before attending an assignment are other challenges. Mrs Thomas-Morton said: 'If you don't receive sufficient information about particularly mental health or crisis situations, it's very difficult to make ethical decisions about whether you are the right interpreter to attend that assignment. 'I know in Immy's case, obviously she was very well known in the community online, but also there is a sensitivity in terms of making sure that you are the right interpreter, so that you don't cause any further blockages in her receiving care, just because you're perhaps known to her from a previous assignment.' In her report Mrs Thomas-Morton suggested 'the lack of availability of a BSL interpreter has serious implications around safety, dignity and wellbeing'. She said a deaf person needs sign language to help make sense of abstract information that someone who is hearing can take for granted, which could force them to make assumptions or to miss lip reading patterns. Mrs Thomas-Morton said: 'I can imagine that that is incredibly exhausting and also quite distressing when you're already in a place of mental health crisis.'
BBC News
20-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Deaf people still struggle, Brighton TikTok star's inquest hears
A nurse involved in the care of a deaf TikTok star has told an inquest into her death there is a "huge shortage" of British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters and she still sees people Jones, a nurse involved in Imogen Nunn's care, said "it would be very difficult" for a deaf person to communicate the crisis they were in without an Nunn, known as Immy, died in Brighton, East Sussex, on New Year's Day 2023 after taking a poisonous substance she had ordered 25-year-old, who was born deaf, raised awareness of hearing and mental health issues on her social media accounts, which attracted more than 780,000 followers. On Tuesday, the inquest at West Sussex Coroner's Court in Horsham heard from Ms Jones, a nurse for the deaf adult community team (DACT) at South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS through a BSL interpreter, she said: "Even in my current job I still struggle to get interpreters for my role in my work and because I've seen deaf patients requiring access to mental health teams, I see that they are also struggling."Just days before Ms Nunn's death, she received a check-in visit at her home from care professionals after sending a text message saying she had had an increase in suicidal BSL interpreter was brought to the meeting as there was not enough time to arrange it, the court was told in March. Consultant psychiatrist Simon Baker, who visited Ms Nunn on 29 December 2022 at her home, previously told the court he was "surprised" how well the meeting had inquest into Ms Nunn's death was previously adjourned for two months because there were no BSL interpreters available to translate for two members of DACT."It's based around language, how can anyone understand another person if they don't share a language?" Ms Jones added. Senior coroner Penelope Schofield's prevention of future deaths report regarding Ms Nunn's care also highlighted the lack of availability of BSL interpreters to support deaf patients being treated with mental health said: "This was particularly apparent when mental health staff were seeking an interpreter at short notice for a patient who was in crisis."The lack of interpreters available has meant that urgent assessments are being carried out with no interpreters present."The inquest continues on Wednesday.
The Independent
20-05-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Deaf TikTok star ‘had no translator for care check-up' three days before death
A nurse involved in the care of a deaf TikTok star who died after ingesting poison warned of a 'huge shortage' of British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters during an inquest into the death. Imogen Nunn, 25, died in Brighton, East Sussex, on New Year's Day 2023 after taking a poisonous substance she ordered online. Ms Nunn, who was born deaf, raised awareness of hearing and mental health issues on her social media accounts, which attracted more than 780,000 followers. On Tuesday, the Inquest at West Sussex Coroners Court in Horsham were informed of a 'huge shortage' in BSL interpreters from Carmen Jones, a nurse for the deaf adult community team (DACT) at South West London and St George's NHS Trust. Just days before Ms Nunn's death, she received a check-in visit at her home from care professionals after sending a text message saying she had had an increase in suicidal thoughts. No BSL interpreter was brought to the meeting as there was not enough time to arrange it, the court was told in March. Communicating through a BSL interpreter on Tuesday, Ms Jones said: 'There is a huge shortage of BSL interpreters. 'Even in my current job I still struggle to get interpreters for my role in my work and because I've seen deaf patients requiring access to mental health teams, I see that they are also struggling.' She told senior coroner Penelope Schofield 'it would be very difficult' for a deaf person to communicate the crisis they were in without an interpreter. 'It's based around language, how can anyone understand another person if they don't share a language?' Ms Jones added. Consultant psychiatrist Simon Baker, who visited Ms Nunn on 29 December 2022 at her home, previously told the court he was 'surprised' how well the meeting had gone. The inquest into Ms Nunn's death was previously adjourned for two months because there were no BSL interpreters available to translate for two members of DACT. This correlated with concerns noted in a prevention of future deaths report written by Ms Schofield regarding Ms Nunn's care. It reads: 'During the course of the inquest (which has yet to be concluded), I heard evidence that there was a lack of availability of British Sign Language Interpreters able to help support deaf patients in the community who were being treated with mental health difficulties. 'This was particularly apparent when mental health staff were seeking an interpreter at short notice for a patient who was in crisis. 'The lack of interpreters available has meant that urgent assessments are being carried out with no interpreters present.' The inquest continues on Wednesday morning.
CBC
15-05-2025
- General
- CBC
‘Many deaf individuals are very upset': The impact of a hearing services strike
Gilbert Guerin, who is deaf, explains through interpreter Jocelyn Dotta how an ongoing strike at Canadian Hearing Services is impacting the deaf community in Sudbury, Ont.
