Falling on deaf ears: interpreters as cultural brokers in mental healthcare.

Abstract

Communication is the cornerstone of mental healthcare. In the UK, many people who will need access to mental health services do not possess English as their first language. In this editorial, we seek to examine current policy and guidance with respect to interpreting in mental healthcare, and explore the benefits and challenges of interpretation and the ethical implications to consider. We focus on how mental health services could better engage with interpreters as cultural brokers to understand cultural expressions of distress. We conclude by suggesting an education and research agenda which could decrease ethnic disparities in mental healthcare.