Substance Abuse and Addiction Commons^™

Supporting Recovery In The Deaf Community: Creating Continuum Of Behavioral Health Care In Central Massachusetts, Melissa L. Anderson, Neil S. Glickman, Lisa Mistler, Susan Jones, Monika E. Kolodziej, Douglas M. Ziedonis

Melissa L. Anderson

Across the U.S., there is a paucity of mental health and substance abuse services for Deaf individuals. Without the availability of communication accommodations and specialized clinical expertise, Deaf individuals seeking behavioral health services contend with access limitations, misdiagnoses, and superficial treatments. Moreover, while the assessment and treatment of co-occurring disorders and the infusion of trauma-informed care are key components of effective treatment in the mainstream literature, the investigation and application of these initiatives to the Deaf population has not yet occurred. The proposed poster will outline the current state of specialized behavioral health services for Deaf individuals in Central Massachusetts, …