Exploring the experience of Polish interpreters who interpret for mental health clinicians in the UK: an interpretative phenomenological analysis

Abstract

ABSTRACT The current study explores the experiences of Polish interpreters who interpret for mental health clinicians and how Polish interpreters view the triadic relationship among themselves, the service user and the mental health clinician they work with when interpreting in a mental health setting. Six participants (four female and two male) were recruited with each taking part in a semi-structured interview. Length of time working as an interpreter in the UK National Health Service (NHS) ranged from six months to 10 years. Interviews were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (Smith, J. A. (2004). Reflecting on the Development of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis and its Contribution to Qualitative Research in Psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 1, 39–54. doi:10.1191/1478088704qp004oa.). Three themes emerged from the analysis of the participants’ interview transcripts. These were: (1) ‘Just a linguist?’ – highlighting the confusion and complexity of the interpreting role; (2) ‘Unspoken alliances’ – describing the interpreters’ experiences of the triadic relationship; (3) ‘Communicating emotional reactions’ – noting the emotional impact of mental health work on interpreters. The findings of the current research emphasise that it is important for clinicians, mental health and interpreting services to take into account the emotional impact and disempowerment caused by structural systemic factors which limit the voice of the interpreter.