Language barriers in mental healthcare: A critical analysis.
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| Title: | Language barriers in mental healthcare: A critical analysis. |
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| Authors: | Richly, Pablo (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Australasian Psychiatry. Jun2025, Vol. 33 Issue 3, p336-338. 3p. |
| Subjects: | Mental health services, Cultural competence, Limited English-proficient students, Communication strategies, Cross-cultural communication, Communication barriers, Health equity |
| Geographic Terms: | New Zealand |
| Abstract: | In multicultural healthcare settings, language barriers pose significant challenges, particularly in mental health where nuanced communication is vital. This manuscript examines the impact of limited English proficiency (LEP) on mental healthcare in New Zealand, where a substantial portion of the population and healthcare workforce are foreign-born. Despite official recommendations, professional interpreter use remains low, compromising care quality for LEP patients. The paper explores interpreters' roles beyond interpretation, including cultural mediation, while noting limitations in interpreter-mediated consultations. It also addresses communication difficulties arising from strong accents and dialects, even when a common language is shared. Multifaceted strategies to improve communication are proposed, including enhanced cultural competency training, patient-centered protocols, and language matching in healthcare teams. Emphasizing a polycultural approach, the manuscript advocates for comprehensive interventions addressing linguistic, cultural, and cognitive aspects of communication in mental healthcare. It calls for further research and policy changes to integrate language access and cultural competency into healthcare quality assessments, aiming to reduce disparities and improve outcomes for diverse patient populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Australasian Psychiatry is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
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| Abstract: | In multicultural healthcare settings, language barriers pose significant challenges, particularly in mental health where nuanced communication is vital. This manuscript examines the impact of limited English proficiency (LEP) on mental healthcare in New Zealand, where a substantial portion of the population and healthcare workforce are foreign-born. Despite official recommendations, professional interpreter use remains low, compromising care quality for LEP patients. The paper explores interpreters' roles beyond interpretation, including cultural mediation, while noting limitations in interpreter-mediated consultations. It also addresses communication difficulties arising from strong accents and dialects, even when a common language is shared. Multifaceted strategies to improve communication are proposed, including enhanced cultural competency training, patient-centered protocols, and language matching in healthcare teams. Emphasizing a polycultural approach, the manuscript advocates for comprehensive interventions addressing linguistic, cultural, and cognitive aspects of communication in mental healthcare. It calls for further research and policy changes to integrate language access and cultural competency into healthcare quality assessments, aiming to reduce disparities and improve outcomes for diverse patient populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| ISSN: | 10398562 |
| DOI: | 10.1177/10398562251316102 |
