Deafblindness and mental health: Psychological distress and unmet need among adults with dual sensory impairment

Using materials adapted for each member, a self-report survey to examine psychological distress and unmet need was sent to the membership of a third sector organization, Deafblind UK. High rates of psychological distress were reported: 61 percent (n = 439) of the respondents obtained a score of two or more (from a maximum of 12) on the GHQ-12 (Goldberg and Williams, 1988), while 45.8 percent obtained a more stringent score of four or more. The findings also suggested high levels of unmet need: more than one in four respondents (26.9%, n = 504) reported that they received no formal support. Surprisingly, given the important role of primary health care practitioners, both in providing treatment and in accessing other services, only a third (32.1%, n = 504) of respondents reported receiving regular support from a General Practitioner or community nurse. The implications for the development of service provision and practice, particularly within the health service, are discussed