A Survey of Post-Secondary School Deaf Adults Understanding of Mental Health Disorders in Ghana

ABSTRACT

This study used an online survey to explore the knowledge and understanding of 19 post-secondary school deaf adults on Mental Health Disorders in Ghana. A purposive snowball sampling technique was used to circulate 30 questions online survey to the respondents. An analysis of results showed that most of the deaf participants perceived that evil spirits could cause mental disorders. Also, the participants were optimistic that the conditions of mental disorders could be improved upon through professional medical healthcare access. Furthermore, it was found out that communication barriers, followed by financial difficulty, were the most significant obstacles the deaf participants face in accessing mental health services. Conclusions were drawn and recommendations made based on the study findings.

KEYWORDS:

• Deaf
• Ghana
• Ghanaian sign language
• mental disorder

Acknowledgments

The author acknowledges the works of other authors used in referencing and has acknowledged them all in the bibliography.

Disclosure Statement

The author declares that he has no conflict of interest.

Ethical Approval

This article contains studies with human participants performed by the co-authors who completed survey questionnaires online. Since the study was not carried out on behalf of any institution of learning or organisation, the co-authors are not bound by any such ethics codes. Here, ethics consent was sought directly from the adult deaf participants who are all Eighteen (18) years and above. The introduction of the survey questionnaire contained a consent statement and participants had to select ‘Agree’ before the survey could proceed.

Additional information

Funding

The collaborating authors received no funding.