Mental health of deaf people in Brazil and Spain: systematic review protocol

Abstract

Hearing loss affects over 5% of the global population, and projections suggest that more than 900 million people will experience disabling hearing loss by 2050. In Brazil, approximately 2.2 million people have severe hearing impairment, with a significant portion identifying as culturally Deaf. The Deaf community faces unique linguistic and cultural challenges that significantly impact their access to healthcare, particularly mental health services. Studies show that Deaf individuals are more vulnerable to mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and substance abuse, often due to systemic barriers, communication difficulties, and social isolation. Despite this, limited research exists on the mental health conditions of Deaf people in Latin and European contexts, especially in Brazil and Spain.