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

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.

KEYWORDS:

• interpreter
• Polish
• UK
• United Kingdom
• immigration
• mental health
• triadic relationship
• language barriers

Notes on contributors

Colm Gallagher, Clinical Psychologist, completed research as part of a doctorate in clinical psychology course. He is currently employed with Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS working with in the Homeless Mental Health and Assertive Outreach teams.

Steve Melluish works as Director of Clinical Practice on the doctoral clinical psychology training programme at the University of Leicester. He has a long-standing interest in the influence of culture on mental health and on interpreting in psychological therapy.

Saima Löfgren, clinical psychologist, is the lead clinician for refugees and asylum seekers in the Nottinghamshire Mental Health Care Trust. She teaches on Cultural Competency, Discourse Analysis and the Philosophy of Science for the doctoral clinical training programme at the University of Leicester and the combined programme at the University of Lincoln and the University of Nottingham. Her research interests lie in the fields of ethnicity, nationalism and multiculturalism.