A young person with a dark skin tone and very short black dreadlocks is smiling at a person whose blurred shape we can just see near the right side of the picture. The smiling person is wearing a purple jumper and they are using sign language, making y shapes with both hands, back of hands to the viewer.

Support is here for you

If you are Deaf, deaf or Deafblind, finding mental health support can sometimes feel harder than it should.

This page helps you find accessible mental health support in Leeds, including services that offer help in British Sign Language (BSL), by text, email, video, or with an interpreter.

Get urgent mental health support

If you are in crisis, feeling unsafe, or worried you might harm yourself or someone else, help is available.

In an emergency

If someone’s life is in immediate danger, contact 999 using one of these options:

Call 999 in BSL

Use the 999 BSL website or app. 

You will connect directly to the emergency services with a live BSL interpreter.

Follow the on-screen steps to start your call.

Call 999 using Relay UK

Use the Relay UK app or textphone (dial 18000). A Relay Assistant will join the call and help you speak to the emergency operator.

Tell them:

  • which service you need (police, ambulance, fire, or coastguard)
  • what is happening
  • your exact location
Use Emergency SMS (if you cannot make a call)

You must register first by texting REGISTER to 999 and replying YES.

In an emergency, text 999 with: 

  • the service you need
  • what is happening 
  • your exact location 

Example:

Ambulance. Person in mental health crisis, at risk of self-harm. Leeds LS1 Tesco Express.

Wait for a reply. Help may take longer than a live call.

Crisis support by text or message (24/7)

You can get private crisis support by text, day or night.

Shout works with SignHealth to run a text-based crisis service for Deaf people.

  • Text DEAF to 85258
  • Available 24 hours a day
  • Free from most UK networks

A trained volunteer will reply and support you until you feel calmer and safer.

Crisis support in Leeds (Dial House)

Dial House offers crisis support in a calm, homely space, with one-to-one time from Crisis Support Workers. They provide taxi transport to and from the house.

Open 6pm to 1am every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Text 07922 249452 at 6pm on the night you want to come. 

Example: Need BSL help at Dial House. Send a taxi for David, 26 Compton Crescent, Leeds, LS11 2JK.

They will arrange for an interpreter to come into Dial House (BSL staff are not on regular shifts).

Deaf Connect – emotional support in BSL

Deaf Connect offers emotional support for deaf and hard-of-hearing people living in West Yorkshire through video or text.

You can talk to someone who is Deaf themselves, without needing an interpreter.

Open Monday, Wednesday and Saturday evenings, 6.30pm to 11pm. Calls begin at 7pm.

To access the service, text 07984 396001 to request a call back time.

You will be texted back with a time and contacted via WhatsApp, FaceTime or text – whichever you prefer.  Support sessions can last up to one hour

This can be a helpful option if you’d like to talk to someone who understands Deaf culture and communication.

NHS 111 in BLS (SignVideo)

If you need urgent advice but it’s not an emergency, you can access NHS 111 through SignVideo using BSL.

  • Available 24 hours a day
  • Choose general health or mental health support
  • To use the service, go to NHS 111 | SignVideo : SignVideo and follow the instructions to start a video call

Get mental health support through your GP

Your GP can help you access NHS mental health support. 

You can choose counselling with:

  • a hearing therapist and interpreter
  • BSL direct with SignHealth (research shows this works better for many BSL users)

Both options are free on the NHS.

If your GP isn’t aware of BSL therapy, you can ask them to contact SignHealth for guidance.

Everyone has the right to mental health support with support for communication.

Talking to your GP about your mental health

GPs are trained and experienced in supporting people with their mental health and regularly see people experiencing mental health problems. Around one third of all GP appointments are related to mental health.

Your GP can offer advice and support, refer you to NHS mental health services, or help you access talking therapies.

You can ask for:

  • extra time in your appointment
  • a BSL interpreter
  • written follow-up information

If you are not getting the communication support you need, you can ask the surgery to review your access needs or to contact an advocacy service on your behalf. You can also change GP surgery if you are still unhappy.

You deserve care that you can understand and feel comfortable using, and have a right to access care through your chosen speech.

Other pages you may find helpful:

Your right to accessible information

NHS services must follow the Accessible Information Standard.

This means they should:

  • provide a BSL interpreter or other communication support if you need one
  • share information in an accessible format (for example, email or text instead of phone calls)
  • contact you in the way you prefer

This applies to both mental health and physical health care.

If your GP surgery does not already know your communication needs, you can ask them to record this in your notes.

Community, advocacy and practical support

Many organisations supporting Deaf, deaf and deafblind people in Leeds offer a mix of community connection, advocacy and practical help. These services can support your mental wellbeing even if they do not provide therapy.

  • Deaf Services at LSLCS – offers the Deaf Connect Helpline, Deaf social group, and provides BSL interpreters if you wish to visit Dial House crisis services.
  • Deaf Experience (DEX) – provides events and advocacy for deaf young people aged 11 to 30.
  • Leeds Society for Deaf and Blind People – supports people with hearing and visual impairments by providing services like BSL interpreting, social activities, and braille and audio services.
  • BID Services – provides a range of specialist support, including a befriending service, equipment provision, youth club, and social groups.
  • Leeds Deaf Action Forum – provides a vital platform for Deaf and hard-of-hearing people in Leeds to come together, share their views, and influence the services that impact their lives
  • ABA Leeds – offers support, including advocacy and activities, for all visually impaired people within diverse communities in Leeds

Support for Deaf carers

If you are Deaf and care for someone else, caring can affect your own mental health.

Carers Leeds supports unpaid carers in Leeds and can offer:

  • emotional support
  • help with stress, anxiety or low mood
  • bereavement support
  • practical advice

Communication support, including BSL, can be arranged. Support is available even if the person you care for does not live with you.

Still not sure where to start?

  • If you feel unsafe or in crisis, get urgent support straight away.
  • If your mental health is affecting daily life, your GP is a good place to start.
  • If you want to find out about local deaf-specific services that can support your health and wellbeing, visit our directory.
  • If you are a carer and would like extra support to look after your own wellbeing, explore local carer services near you.

You can also visit our Finding support in Leeds page for information about specific mental health topics and support available in Leeds.

Thank you to the local organisations and community members who helped make this page.

Last updated: March 2026