A charity serving Hong Kong’s deaf and hard-of-hearing community for nearly two decades is set to launch new initiatives aimed at addressing the mental health needs of its beneficiaries and their carers. Silence, a non-profit organization, plans to expand its services with the support of funding from the annual Operation Santa Claus (OSC) campaign.
The initiative, set to roll out next year, will include mental health counselling, workshops, and therapeutic outings, as well as museum visits and forest excursions. The goal is to raise awareness about the mental health challenges faced by individuals with hearing impairments and their families, help reduce stress, and encourage those in need to seek professional care.
“Deaf individuals face significant communication barriers, which is one of the biggest challenges among people with disabilities,” said Tsan Siu Yat-chan, CEO of Silence. “Because their disability is not visible, many are unfairly perceived as being unintelligent, which can have a profound impact on their lives and their families.”
Ken Ng Ka-ki, Operations Director of Silence, explained that there is a common misconception that deaf people can simply communicate through reading and writing. However, for many, these skills are not easily acquired because hearing plays a fundamental role in learning. Many deaf individuals experience isolation due to the difficulty in finding others who can communicate using sign language.
“People with hearing loss often withdraw from society because they struggle to communicate. Even seemingly simple activities, like taking a bus, can be difficult due to a lack of understanding from the general public,” Ng said, citing the common challenge of passengers needing to verbally inform the driver of their stop, which is especially difficult for those who cannot hear.
The OSC funding will enable Silence to offer a range of services designed to foster greater inclusion. These include art and horticultural therapy for beneficiaries, as well as sign language training for family members, employers, and local businesses.
“We want to encourage those we serve to leave their homes and engage with society,” Ng added. “But it’s also important to support the carers, who often face stress themselves.”
Founded in 2008 by former civil servant Tsan Siu Yat-chan, Silence has been instrumental in helping deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals integrate into society and access opportunities to reach their full potential. Over the years, the charity has provided interpretation services for clients at job interviews, legal meetings, and medical appointments.
While Hong Kong’s public hospitals are required to offer sign language interpretation, there is a severe shortage of qualified interpreters, which often forces deaf patients to make a difficult choice between waiting for an interpreter or proceeding without one. Unfortunately, many opt to see a doctor without an interpreter, which can lead to miscommunication and dire consequences.
In May 2020, a deaf man suffering from depression tragically took his life 16 hours after being discharged from a hospital. An investigation found that he had not been provided with a sign language interpreter during his treatment.
“Without proper communication, medical treatment becomes incredibly difficult,” Ng said, stressing the importance of accessible interpretation services.
With funding from OSC, Silence will continue to provide essential interpretation services for beneficiaries like Kitty Chui Yuk-yin, a woman who became deaf at the age of three due to a severe illness. Chui, who has worked as a cleaning lady and dishwasher, often finds it challenging to communicate with colleagues.
“I’m the only deaf person at my workplace. Sometimes my coworkers speak to me instead of writing things down, assuming I can understand them. But I can’t lip-read, so I have no idea what they’re saying,” Chui explained through sign language.
Chui expressed gratitude for the support she has received from Silence, particularly during doctor visits and through participation in the charity’s arts activities. “Through these activities, I’m able to relieve stress and regain the emotional strength to face each day,” she said, showing a painting of a flower and butterfly she created.
The OSC-funded project will benefit 1,020 people with hearing impairments and their carers, along with 430 members of the general public. However, Silence notes that more support is needed as the number of deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals in Hong Kong has risen to 240,000, a figure that continues to grow due to long-term exposure to noise in workplaces like ferries, construction sites, and mahjong parlours.
Since its inception in 1988, Operation Santa Claus—an annual fundraising initiative organized by the South China Morning Post and public broadcaster RTHK—has raised more than HK$383 million (US$49 million) to support charitable projects in Hong Kong.
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