Aspinen, Senni, Laine, Iisa & Pellinen, Siiri Mental Health in Discussion – Finnish Sign Language using Youth’s thoughts on mental health discussions, interpreting and receiving information 46 pages and 2 appendices Spring 2021 Diaconia University of Applied Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Programme in Humanities Interpreter, Sign Language and Interpretation

The purpose of this thesis was to research young sign language users’ thoughts on mental health as a conversation topic. The aim was to create new scientific research data on the matter.

The data was collected as a quantitative questionnaire survey aimed for young sign language users aged 13 to 29. The survey was generated on a survey website Webropol and it was available for two weeks at the end of November to the beginning of December 2020. The questionnaire was shared through social media networks by organizations for the deaf, hard of hearing and parents of hearing-impaired children as well as two schools in which there are classes for sign language users.

The questionnaire consisted of 19 questions in both Finnish and Finnish Sign Language and was answered by 26 participants. The questions covered topics such as the amount of average discussion around mental health and the feelings included in it, as well as the usage of interpreting in those discussions. Access to information about mental health in Finnish Sign Language was also researched.

The results showed that half of the young sign language users converse about mental health in a general matter less than monthly and the same number of participants wants to increase the frequency of the conversations. The majority of the youth would prefer to talk about mental health with someone who knows Finnish Sign Language, but if there were to be an interpreter present most of the youth would prefer the interpreter to be a familiar one. Most of the respondents of the survey did not mind about the interpreter's gender.

The results showed a need for more information on mental health in Finnish Sign Language. The thesis provides updated research on young Finnish Sign Language users’ own opinions on mental health as a discussion topic and can act as a resource for upcoming works on the matter.

Keywords: discourse, mental health, quantitative research, sign language, youth