Gallaudet Students Featured in Mental Health Documentary

A few years ago, Julia Petersen, ’90, was enjoying a Bison football game during Gallaudet Homecoming week. As a longtime mental health therapist/consultant for the Seattle Children’s Hospital Department of Psychiatry, she has supported many Deaf and hard of hearing youth at Seattle Children’s over the years. It wasn’t a surprise when she saw one of her former patients, now a Gallaudet student, at the game.

The student thanked Julia for her past support and encouragement at Seattle Children’s. Soon after, another student came up. Then another. And another.

By the end of the day, she had caught up with four of her former patients. Three of them were now attending Gallaudet, and one was a student at RIT. All of them were students of color from immigrant families. All of them were first-generation college students. All were counseled by Julia at Seattle Children’s Hospital in years past.

Julia’s friend pointed out the similarities in the stories, and suggested that she make a film to capture their experiences. The idea stuck. Julia knew that talking about mental health was taboo in the Deaf community. She had been amazed by how openly her former patients talked about their mental health journeys in public. She wondered if they would do the same on camera.

It’s estimated that more than 1 in 5 people in the United States experience mental health challenges. The risk is even higher for Deaf and hard of hearing people who face language deprivation and communication barriers. Talking openly about mental health in the Deaf community helps other people know that they aren’t alone.

Julia didn’t know anything about making movies, but she was determined. She even applied for a grant to get funding. When she thought about an interviewer, one name came to mind. Melissa Elmira Yingst, ’00, also known as Melmira, is recognized in the Deaf community for breaking taboos about subjects like mental health, fatphobia, gender identity, and more. She was the perfect person for the role. They were joined by filmmaker Seth Light, ’23.

Melissa and Seth traveled to Gallaudet and RIT to film the students in their natural environment. In Thriving Together, released this past September, each student shares their journey and advocates for the importance of talking about mental health challenges. Their courageous openness shows a new way forward for the Deaf community.

“Don’t be afraid to learn about yourself,” Julia says. “It might be tough at first, but it’s a good investment in your life. And don’t forget the tools available to you. Not just therapy. Community, friends, family, and self-care.”

Since the film was released, Julia has gotten positive feedback from her former patients. They’re thrilled that sharing their mental health experiences could inspire others to seek support. They’ve been sending the film with their friends and peers. It even brought them closer to their parents.

It will take a community to get rid of the stigmas that keep Deaf and hard of hearing people from seeking help. Thriving Together, created by Gallaudet alumni and featuring Gallaudet students, is a giant step forward.

Click here to watch Thriving Together

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Gallaudet offers mental health counseling and support to our students. Students can visit the Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) website to learn more or make an appointment.

Gallaudet’s Deaf and Hard of Hearing Child Resilience Center (DHHCRC) researches and develops mental health treatment for children. DHHCRC has compiled a list of online resources.

The National Deaf Center has also compiled a list of mental health resources for Deaf and hard of hearing people. You can visit FindTreatment.gov for more general services and hotlines.