Through deaf eyes: factors influencing suicidal behavior among deaf adults

Deaf people are at higher suicide risk, yet little is known about the factors that contribute to this elevated risk, particularly in Australia. This research explored factors which deaf Australian adults perceived to influence their suicidal behavior. A parallel multi-methods sequential design study using a strengths-based deaf-centric approach was conducted. This incorporated qualitative interviews with deaf sign language users who reported adverse mental health experiences and a national cross-sectional survey of deaf adults. Both instruments included questions about perceived influences on suicidal thoughts or behaviors. Thematic analysis was used for interview data and descriptive analysis for survey data. 10 interviews and 172 survey responses were analyzed. Interview participants described 5 key themes influencing suicidal behavior: identity struggles, bullying, burnout, limited access to deaf-aware mental health services, and strained relationships. Survey participants reported communication challenges (85.5%), difficult interpersonal relationships (78.5%), abuse (58.7%), negative self-perception (47.1%), and education or employment barriers (43.0%) as influential factors. Results showed that communication and societal factors influenced suicidal behavior including issues related to identity and belonging, and the treatment of deaf individuals by hearing people across family, school, and healthcare settings. A statistically significant difference was observed for suicide planning between men and women, though no gender differences emerged for suicidal ideation or suicide attempts. Notably, all interview participants (n = 10) who identified their gender as "other" reported experiencing suicidal ideation. There is a need to support hearing parents when making decisions about early intervention in developing communication skills and accessible mental health services for deaf people.