P3B109: The Experiences of Interpreters in Mental Health Encounters-a Qualitative Study

Background: It has been recognized that high quality communication is required to help improve shared decision making between clinicians and patients. This makes the role of the interpreter all the more important to help LEP, or emerging English speakers in mental health encounters. While there are many studies on the clinician and patient experiences in cross-cultural mental health encounters, there are only a few qualitative studies that look at the interpreter experiences in a mental health context. As mental health issues in LEP or emerging English speakers increase, there is a gap in the literature as to how to successfully improve the quality of care using interpreters in mental health encounters.

Methods: Using qualitative methods, this study aims to address this gap by exploring the experiences of interpreters when interpreting for mental health encounters. Seventeen interpreters from the Philadelphia area were interviewed, representing 19 languages (8 Spanish only, 1 Nepali only, the rest interpret for multiple languages). They were asked about the following: 1) challenging experiences in the triadic relationship between interpreter, clinician and patient when discussing mental and emotional health, 2) their experiences in interpreting mental health concepts into another language, 3) their experiences in culture brokering and 4) their opinions on how to improve mental health encounters using interpreters

Results: Findings include that mental health concepts and queries can be challenging to translate due to language differences (structure, limited vocabulary), cultural differences (including stigma and ethnocentrism of mental health care) In addition, the interpreter is often called to cross boundaries by both patient and clinician, many interpreters desire mental health training, and feel that clinicians need training on how to work with interpreters.

Conclusion: The findings in the study indicate that strengthening the role of the interpreter in mental health settings would benefit patient care. In addition, training clinicians on how to use interpreters, and training interpreters on mental health terms would improve the patient experience.