Using this paper and its recommendations as a guide, State Mental Health Commissioners/Directors should support the establishment of Deaf to Deaf Peer Support Training and Services in their states to significantly support the recovery process of the people they serve who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing and have mental health conditions. Peer support services and mental health recovery concepts have largely been embraced in the hearing world. However, peer support and learning about mental health recovery concepts among the Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities has just begun to emerge and are not widely known. People who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing and have mental health conditions should have the same opportunities to have peer support services as their hearing counterparts and learn about mental health recovery concepts.
Funding for this initiative was made possible by grant no. 1H79TI083022 from SAMHSA. The views expressed in written conference materials or publications and by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services; nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
