Hi, I’m Hamza!

I was born profoundly Deaf and have grown up surrounded by British Sign Language (BSL) and Deaf culture. My Deaf identity is not a barrier; it is a source of pride and strength. It shapes how I experience the world and how I connect with others. Being Deaf has taught me the value of communication, patience, and empathy - all essential qualities in any conversation about mental health.

Much of my life’s work has been about ensuring that Deaf people are meaningfully represented in decision-making spaces. I currently serve on the Board of Trustees for the British Deaf Association, the Association of British Sign Language Teachers and Assessors (ABSLTA), and Communication Unlimited. Each organisation champions equality, language access, and cultural recognition for Deaf people, and together they reflect the diversity and resilience of our community.

Alongside these roles, I am an Expert by Experience with Mental Health Together. This role enables me to use my lived experience of profound Deafness to influence and improve local mental health services. It gives me a platform to highlight the specific challenges Deaf people face - from communication barriers to the lack of culturally and linguistically appropriate support.

Mental health affects everyone, but access to good support is not always equal. Deaf people are often expected to navigate systems designed for hearing people, which can lead to frustration, confusion, and a sense of exclusion. When BSL interpreters are not available or professionals lack Deaf awareness, it becomes harder to express complex emotions or build trust with practitioners. Misunderstandings can occur easily, and this can have a serious impact on diagnosis, treatment, and recovery.

Through my involvement in Mental Health Together, I aim to promote genuine inclusion. This means ensuring that Deaf people are involved from the very beginning - in the planning, design, and evaluation of services. It also means valuing BSL as a legitimate language of care, not simply as a communication aid. When professionals work in partnership with Deaf experts and interpreters, mental health services become more equitable, compassionate, and effective for everyone.

Representation matters deeply to me. It is not only about being present in meetings or on boards; it is about ensuring that Deaf experiences shape decisions and outcomes. Every time I attend a meeting, I remind myself that I carry with me the voices of many Deaf people whose stories deserve to be heard. My presence in these spaces is both a responsibility and a privilege.

I strongly believe in the principle of “nothing about us, without us.” True inclusion goes beyond awareness - it demands collaboration, respect, and shared ownership. I want to see a future where Deaf people are visible in all areas of mental health: as practitioners, advocates, and leaders.

My hope is that by sharing my journey, more people will appreciate that accessibility and equality are essential foundations of good mental health care. When services listen, adapt, and communicate inclusively, they create space for everyone to thrive. Deaf people deserve to feel safe, respected, and understood - not as an exception, but as a norm.

Thank you to Mental Health Together for providing a platform that values lived experience and celebrates the diverse voices shaping better mental health for all.

My name is Nina. I’ve been volunteering as an Expert by Experience for over six years, sharing my lived experience to help shape mental health education and services across Derbyshire and beyond.

“I’ve regularly spoken to cohorts of Approved Mental Health Professional students at Sheffield Hallam University, helping future social workers understand the realities of mental health from a lived perspective.

I’ve co-produced suicide, safety, and risks assessment training for Derbyshire Healthcare Foundation Trust with Julie Sheldon, Nurse Consultant. Our training has been praised for its innovation and relevance to current guidelines. Our work was recognised by a Manchester University professor who called us 'trailblazers' and invited us to present at a Culture of Care learning event at Derby County Football Stadium.

I’ve presented at NHS England events, including one led by Joe Thompson, Associate Director at Derbyshire Healthcare, where he interviewed me in front of representatives from multiple NHS Trusts. Joe described me as a brilliant speaker and said my talk created 'such a buzz in the room'. NHS England were apparently very pleased and offered to send me a thank you letter, which means a lot.

I’m passionate about improving how people in crisis are treated especially in A&E settings where stigma and misunderstanding can lead to poor care. I hope to develop training for A&E staff, police, schools, and mental health professionals to help change attitudes and improve support.

“My work is always done with care and professionalism. I believe that lived experience voices are vital in shaping services that truly meet people’s needs. With the support of Mental Health Together, I’ll continue to use my experience to make a difference!"

"It was very impactful to hear from Nina first hand on lived experiences of crisis - thank you Nina."  Christie Kelley (East Midlands Ambulance Service).

Some of our Experts by Experts are now attending strategic meetings within the mental health system.  These are hosted by the mental health commissioning team and attended by mental health service providers and representatives of the local authorities and public health. Having a regular presence and voice at these meetings is essential because people with lived experience bring insights that can make all the difference to decision-making.

We asked Jenny Appleby, Head of Adult Mental Health commissioning to say a few words about the value of having Experts by Experience in the room:

"People with lived experience (Experts by Experience) have made a big impact by joining the Community Mental Health Delivery Group and the Mental Health Urgent Care Delivery Group. These meetings bring together different people and organisations to help improve how services are delivered and developed locally.

Experts play a key role by:

• 1) Making sure plans consider the views of those who use or need the services, and their carers
• 2) Helping spot gaps in how services are promoted or understood
• 3) Highlighting areas where support is missing, especially for under-represented groups

One major benefit (and challenge!) is the need to use clear, simple language in meetings. Thanks to the Experts, we’re more aware of avoiding jargon and acronyms, which helps build better relationships and move things forward.

Working together with Experts should be part of everything we do. Their input helps us stay focused on what local people really need. I’m very thankful for their support and excited to keep working with them.

A big thank you also to Mental Health Together for helping our Experts make a real difference across Derby and Derbyshire."

Jenny Appleby, Head of Adult Commissioning, Derby and Derbyshire ICB.