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Abstract
This paper aims to explore the role of the transcultural mental health worker as an alternative to the use of interpreters in an attempt to identify the communication barriers and improve the mental health care for Black and minority ethnic patients in the Sheffield area of the UK. A qualitative approach was conducted using a questionnaire, focus groups and semi-structured interviews, with 92 health and social care participants taking part. All participants apart from seven found working with transcultural mental health workers either more effective than or as effective as working with interpreters due to their holistic approach in understanding the various mental health aspects and cultural boundaries. The study highlights the importance of addressing the cultural issues since different cultural meanings can sometimes cause more difficulties in understanding between health and social care professionals and Black and minority ethnic patients than does language. It also highlights the complexities involved in interpreting in mental health settings and the need to tailor practical training sessions and educational programmes for interpreters in this field.
Disclosure statement
The author declares that no competing interests exist.
Notes on contributor
Nahed Munir Arafat is currently a Postgraduate Research Student at the University of Sheffield, School of Languages and Cultures, Sheffield, United Kingdom. Her main interest is studying language and cultural issues facing Black and Ethnic minorities in the mental health field. Her current Doctoral research is looking at the impact of language and culture on accessing psychological therapies for Pakistani, Somali and Yemeni patients in the Sheffield city. She has undergraduate degree in Art and Education, Department of English language and a master degree in translation studies at the University of Sheffield. She also has a Diploma in Public service interpreting in Law (DPSI, UK) and is also an Examiner for the Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIOL) Educational Trust (IoLET) and has teaching and training experience in this area. She had a wide experience working with foreign companies overseas and has been actively involved in translation and interpretation work. She is working as a Transcultural Mental health Worker for the Arabic-speaking community in Sheffield.