This project addresses the urgent mental health needs of deaf individuals in developing countries, particularly in Bangladesh. With a population of over 13 million deaf people, many lack access to tailored mental health resources and professional support in Bangladesh.

The project pioneers co-designed, culturally, and linguistically adapted digital interventions, leveraging accessible tools like WhatsApp and YouTube to create content in Bangla Sign Language. Key achievements include the development of a mental health sign bank, the creation of accessible educational video content on mental health, and the establishment of digital platforms for deaf people to discuss mental health issues.

Through interdisciplinary collaboration, the initiative envisions a future where deaf individuals actively contribute to mental health awareness while professionals and interpreters are empowered with the skills to bridge communication gaps. This project represents a vital step toward inclusive digital health solutions in low-resource settings.

Selected Publications

• M Tasdik Hasan, Md Khalid Hossain, Jessica Watterson, Manika Saha, Natasha Layton, MD Jahirul Islam, Helal Uddin Ahmed, Delvin Varghese, Roisin McNaney (2026). Giving Voice to the Deaf community: Co-Designing a Bangla Mental Health Sign Language Bank in Bangladesh. The Lancet Psychiatry.
• Md Khalid Hossain, Md Jahirul Islam, M Tasdik Hasan (2025). Using Digital Interventions from a Sustainability Perspective: Capabilities and Needs of Deaf People in Bangladesh. Proceedings of the Association for Information Science and Technology.