North East Mental Health and Deafness Service

A member of staff or a carer can support you to read this leaflet. They will be able to answer any questions that you have.

• Deaf and Deafblind
• Aged 18 years or older
• Mainly use BSL (British Sign Language) to communicate
• Have mental health problems, for example depression, anxiety, dementia or psychosis, learning disability, neurodiversity.
• We understand Deaf culture and how it affects mental health. Our team includes staff who are Deaf or fluent in BSL.

We work with the Community Treatment Team (the CTT) or Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) in your local area.

Laura Gibbons, Team Manager and Occupational Therapist

Emily Erceylan, Communication Therapist

Heather Thompson, Nurse

Emmanuel Chan, Nurse

Sarah Davidson, Nurse

If you think you have a mental health problem and want our help.

• See a GP (family doctor)
• Contact a Social Worker
• GP (family doctor) or social worker will write to us and your local community team
• We will see you together

We could meet at:

• A community clinic near to where you live
• Your GP surgery
• Your home
• Online via a videocall.

We will:

• Book an interpreter, if this is your choice.
• You will have a key worker (we call them a care coordinator or lead professional) in your community team. We will work with you and your key worker to meet your needs.
• We will talk about your mental health – now and in the past. This is called an assessment. It helps us understand how to support you.
• Talk to your family, if you want us to.
• Agree what to do next.
• If you need treatment, we decide together what to do. This is called the Care Plan. You will be given a copy. This can be in English or BSL. Your care plan is reviewed regularly.
• We write to your GP (family doctor) and let them know the plan.
• We might ask other teams or services to help.

Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust

• Texting 07860 064 775
• Using SignVideo
• Contacting 18001 111 using the Relay UK app

Tees, Esk and Wear Valley NHS Foundation Trust

• Using SignVideo
• Contacting 18001 111 using the Relay UK app

National urgent mental health support

SHOUT 24/7  Text ‘DEAF’ to 85258

Crisis support video

We’ve produced a short video about the support available to you in a crisis. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=d2ajKoQRZQA

Scan the QR codes for find out more information

Mental health self help guide BSL videos
https://www.cntw.nhs.uk/services/north-east-mental-health-deafness-service/bsl-self-help-videos/

Library – includes Mental Health Act BSL videos
https://www.cntw.nhs.uk/resource-library/?filter_page=1&filter_keyword=bsl&filter_type=&filter_audience=&filter_language=&filter_letter=all

Deaf clubs
https://www.cntw.nhs.uk/services/north-east-mental-health-deafness-service-walkergate-park/local-and-national-support/

Local and national support  https://www.cntw.nhs.uk/services/north-east-mental-health-deafness-service-walkergate-park/local-and-national-support/

For further information contact:

North East Mental Health and Deafness Service
First Floor
Ashgrove
St Nicholas Hospital
Jubilee Road
Gosforth
NE3 3XT

Telephone number: 0191 287 5077

Mobile 07584 339 539 (text messages will be checked and replied regularly)

Email [email protected]

Please include your name and date of birth

Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust has a complaints policy.  If you want to complain we will give you a leaflet to explain how to, or you can talk to a member of staff.

If you think there are things we could do to make our service better please tell a member of the tea

Further information about the content, reference sources or production of this leaflet can be obtained from the Patient Information Centre. If you would like to tell us what you think about this leaflet please get in touch.

This information can be made available in a range of formats on request (Braille, audio, larger print, easy read, BSL or other languages). Please telephone the Patient Information Centre by telephone on 0191 246 7288 (via text Relay UK 18001).

Published by the Patient Information Centre

2026 Copyright: Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust

Ref: PIC/114/0426 April 2026 V17

Website: www.cntw.nhs.uk

Telephone: 0191 246 7288

Review date 2029