Campbeltown Courier - Letters to the Editor 8.5.26

Our mental health services frequently face lower funding relative to their disease burden, and if unaddressed, those children and young people with mental health problems will carry this into adulthood.

The costs of failing to address mental health problems are well-established. For example, those affected are more likely to be unemployed, homeless, get caught up in the criminal justice system, or be in extremely costly long-term care.

Our new MSPs have an incredible responsibility, and we urge them to make tackling the mental health emergency their number one priority.

The Scottish Children’s Services Coalition: Patrick Gannon, Falkland House School; Lynn Black, LOVE Care; Kenny Graham, Spark of Genius; Niall Kelly, Young Foundations.

Breaking invisible barriers

As a deaf person in the UK, I know there’s still a long way to go until we can say we’re a truly equal society. Common everyday activities like shopping, visiting the doctors or socialising can be full of challenges.

Things have improved in many ways over the years, but being deaf in a world made for hearing people can feel like being in an invisible box. But with just a few simple changes, we can include everyone.

In my line of work, as a model and actor – immense effort is required for every interaction, whether it’s lip-reading across a studio during a shoot or constantly asking people to repeat themselves.

This Deaf Awareness Week 2026 (May 4-10) I’ve teamed up with RNID to show people how they can break through these invisible barriers for the 18 million adults in the UK who are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus. 

With a few simple changes and a little bit of patience, we can include everyone. Simple actions like getting someone’s attention, letting them see your lips when you’re speaking, and learning a few basic phrases in British Sign Language – these can all remove the barriers instantly.

Sign up to RNID’s ‘It does matter’ campaign to receive free deaf awareness communications tips and simple British Sign Language (BSL) videos. Visit www.rnid.org.uk for more information.
 
Georgia Meacham, deaf actor, model and RNID ambassador.