What is mental health interpreting?

by Target Language Translation Services

- October 26 2021

As the COVID-19 pandemic rounds the turn on its second year, fast-spreading variants have resulted in a rise in infections as well as another round of lockdowns. The combination of illness, death, economic difficulty, and limited social interactions have unsurprisingly had profound influence on mental health. Researchers worry that the erosion in mental health could linger long after the pandemic has subsided.

Meanwhile, there is already evidence to suggest that non-English-speaking patients have high rates of depression. The influence of COVID has intensified the mental health burden felt by racial and ethnic minorities.

Language barriers, as well as lack of cultural understanding by health care providers, may lead to under-diagnosis and/or misdiagnosis of mental illness in people from racially and ethnically diverse populations.

Therefore, language access is vital in mental health, but it does present unique challenges for interpreters and patients alike.

Why is mental health interpreting important?

Here are some reasons mental health interpreting is so significant.

Increases patient safety and compliance

It’s no secret that mental illness contributes to impaired quality of life. For some people, it can also lead to injury or death, whether through suicide, self-medication or risky behavior. Communication barriers make it more difficult for patients to reach out and for clinicians to spot red flags before it’s too late.

Meanwhile, treatment for psychiatric disorders can take years. Making sure that patients comply with prescribed drug regimens is a challenge in and of itself. Mental health interpreters can help patients and their families understand why it’s vital that they take their pills, what side effects to look for and when to seek additional help.

Increases access to care

Effective communication between patients and clinicians is essential for quality care. Medical interpreters save lives. But it might be even more significant in the realm of mental health. In many situations, mental health patients don’t have physical symptoms that can be independently measured. To get access to care, patients have to be able to describe their emotional state. That can be hard, even in your first language.

Without access to mental health interpreting services, patients with limited English or those who prefer to use sign language may find it impossible to seek assistance in the first place.

Interpreting services can help bridge the gap, so people get treatment when they need it.

Reduce the risk of misunderstanding and misdiagnosis

Interpreters interpret more than just spoken words. They also translate differences between cultures. These differences impact the way people talk about mental illness and describe their symptoms. In mental healthcare, these misunderstandings can easily result in misdiagnosis.

An interpreter who is familiar with the culture and trained to interpret in mental healthcare situations can recognize the issues and head off problems before they occur. Interpreters can work with patients and their families to help explain concepts that they aren’t familiar with.

Help patients understand their treatments

Informed consent is a cornerstone of medical ethics. It’s also an important part of mental healthcare, especially when the treatments themselves can be distressing or traumatic for the patient. Language barriers increase patients' feelings of isolation and loss of control.

Even in less dire situations, though, patients must understand the drugs they’ve been prescribed, along with the potential side effects. They also need the opportunity to ask questions and get answers that they can easily understand.

Interpreters make it possible for patients to understand the risks and benefits of a given treatment plan. That way, they can make informed decisions.

How to add an interpreter to a mental health session?

Being culturally sensitive, Target Language Translation Services professional interpreters are readily available to help in more than 500 languages. Typically they are available on-demand within seconds.

For In-Office Meetings

If the patient is in the caregiver’s office, an interpreter can be reached via telephone using a dedicated  number. An interpreter can also be seen via video using a smart phone, tablet, or laptop computer. Caregivers who work in mental health clinics can find an interpreter on-demand as they do rounds.

In some cases it may be preferable to have an interpreter on the premises, in which case a face-to-face interpreter can be scheduled.

For Virtual Meetings

There is a growing acceptance for conducting mental-health appointments virtually, either via telephone, video, or telehealth platform.

If the meeting is being conducted by phone, an interpreter can be reached via a dedicated phone number and then brought into the call as a third-party. Alternatively, the interpreter can also form a conference bridge for the caregiver and dial-out to a patient.

Some prefer to conduct video meetings on platforms like Zoom, GoTo Meeting  or Microsoft Teams. Target Language Translation Services is able to provide an interpreter for any of these platforms. Just speak to your project manager for further information.

This article is reprinted from K International and LanguageLine.

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