BSL SDQ translating project

What does SDQ mean, what it is and why?

The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), is a screening that asks questions about emotions and behaviour. It is filled in by parents, teachers and young people. Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) use it to measure mental health problems when they first see young people and families, and use it again after treatment to see if the problems have improved. The SDQ has been translated into 60+ spoken languages, but not British Sign Language (BSL). The SDQ was created by Robert Goodman.

There are three different SDQs, one for parents, young people and teachers. Each of the SDQ questionnaires has been translated into BSL to enable the screening for each group. We would need to recruit to each one so we can validate the SDQ in BSL and to see if it is accessible for BSL user.

For the SDQ to work successfully, we require three different types of volunteers; parents, young people and teachers. One or more of these may be BSL users. These three volunteers will make up what is known as a ‘triad’.

The benefits from this research will support Deaf children and young people in the future making sure they get access to the right assessment tools in the language of their choice because Deaf children and young people are 2/3 times more likely than hearing people to have a mental health problem in their lives.

Are you interested in being involved in this project?
Are you in any of these groups?

– Deaf BSL young people age 11-16.
– Deaf BSL parents who have a child age 4-16 (deaf or hearing children).
– Hearing parents who have a Deaf BSL user child/young people ages 11-16.
– Deaf BSL teachers who teach children aged 4-16 (deaf or hearing children).
– Deaf BSL teaching assistant who works with children aged 4 – 16 (deaf or hearing children).
– Hearing young people ages 11-16 who have Deaf BSL parents.
– Deaf BSL young people ages 11-16 who have hearing parents.
– Hearing teachers who teach deaf children or hearing children who have deaf BSL parents.

We need lots of people to enable us to test the BSL SDQ if it works well and the questions are signed appropriately. With your assistance and participation in this project we will be able to support future young deaf people and children to get the right support from mental health services. We would really appreciate your involvement!

We have information in BSL explaining this project so please feel free to contact us and we will send you a copy.

There are 3 different research assistants and a research co-ordinator covering different areas in England:

Kate Moore: North England: [email protected]
Helen Phillips: Midlands: [email protected]
Lilli: London and South East: [email protected]
Kosar: South West: [email protected]

Please contact us and if you not sure which region you are in, we will sort out and arrange one of us to visit you or to explain the project.

Helen Phillips
Research Assistant.
Deaf CAMHS

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