Supporting Mental Health in People Living With Aphasia: A Call to Action

Abstract

Purpose: This clinical focus article will provide an overview of the psychosocial impact of aphasia, with particular attention to depression and anxiety and barriers for accessing mental health services. The importance of interdisciplinary collaboration between speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and mental health providers as well as importance of stepped psychological care, peer befriending, support groups, and communication partner training will be highlighted. Resources will be provided for clinicians to utilize in increasing their knowledge and skills in supporting psychosocial issues for people with aphasia and their families. Conclusions: People living with aphasia are at high risk of mental health problems. There is a gap in the need for services and access to services due to the inherent language challenges caused by aphasia. SLPs need to take a leadership role in bridging this gap by partnering with mental health providers to increase access to services. Using the framework of stepped psychological care, SLPs can support people living with aphasia and their families in successfully living with aphasia.