History

Met Neil Wood and his family, grew up knowing each other well. She shares a story with Neil about Language Deprivation and her PEJS experience with his young brother, David Wood.

Psychology sessions
Marianne Bridge, interpreter, suggested that I see a psychologist.

Karli studied BA psychology and MA in mental health counselling at Gallaudet University, Washington DC, USA

In 1997 Karli recalled one of her Deaf professors talking about providing a Mental Health workshop for Deaf participants and how they learned a lot about what it is. Karli wondered why it was so special to talk about mental health (MH)

Karli also studied and practised yoga with a group of deaf friends and made a commitment to practise yoga four times a week due to her work as Peer Health Educator in 1997 - 1998 at Gallaudet. And found it helped her MH so much

Karli worked for Deaf children and adults and their families as a Child Mental Health Worker and Community Worker and Counsellor at NHS, UK

Karli with her former ex husband, Simon, set up her counselling business where she started to see a few Deaf clients at her home. Karli started to wonder about studying Health psychology.

Karli worked for John Pierce Centre, Prahran, as a Family Support Coordinator, for three days per week. She met Deaf clients for counselling as well as providing family support at clients homes.

Karli studied a Yoga Teacher course for two years where she started to study and started her own personal yoga practice.

Neil Wood, a Deaf friend of Karli’s and her family, asked her to travel to Brisbane a few times to run a yoga retreat. Neil was supportive of Karli’s work in counselling and yoga. Neil also ran his own business called Green Door. Neil also volunteered to give a speech about his depression experiences in Melbourne, attended by 20 attendees.

Simon asked Karli if she wanted to fundraise $$ for to raise DMH awareness and education after listening to her stories in mental health.

They both organised a year long fundraiser event with Deaf Bushwalking Victoria where they held about 10 walking events yearly. The fundraiser walk was held in November 2015 and raised about $5000. This money was started on DMH literature and then it was handed over to Deaf Victoria for research and to collect data for Gary Kerridge, volunteer, and Melissa Lowre, former General manager of Deaf Victoria, to present at the Let's Talk about Mental Health and Deaf people. Recommendations were suggested in the Report, see below link

https://www.deafvictoria.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Deaf-Victoria-Deaf-Mental-Health-Report.pdf

Ben Souter, highly respected Auslan interpreter and an old friend of Karli's, passed away suddenly. He and his best friend Kevin Pare were interested in making Deaf MH more accessible. Unfortunately, Ben is not here. So Deaf Mental Health Trust was set up in late 2018 with support by marketing person, Hailley Reynolds .

Karli applied for a facebook grant and was successful with the grant of about $5000 to train Deaf people to be leaders for DBV. Facebook filmed DBV, see below link

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2412680258827916

The DMHF team was run by Teresa Cumpston-Bird, Clair Black, Karli Dettman and Neil Wood

In 2020, Karli had noted the six unique Deaf traumas in her work with both past and current clients so she and the team asked Livi Creations (Olivia Beasley) to design the Deaf Trauma logo.

Then Toby Pattullo , website designer, was asked to design a website Deaf Mental Health with the logo with Ramas translating what the 6 Deaf traumas are.

Deaf Australia and the DMH fund team signed an agreement for DMH to auspice under DA so the DMH donations can be claimed as tax deductible.

New Deaf mental Health fund team had a big makeover

Now we have 5 new volunteers plus two regular volunteers, Karli and Neil.
Currently setting up clear governance policies and procedures.

Future goals for DMH

Run fundraisers events
$500 Grant open to community to apply
Continue to raise awareness and education about DMH via social media