title: Language barriers in mental health care: a survey of primary care practitioners.
abstract: Many migrants do not speak the official language of their host country. This linguistic gap has been found to be an important contributor to disparities in access to services and health outcomes. This study examined primary care mental health practitioners' experiences with linguistic diversity. 113 practitioners in Montreal completed a self-report survey assessing their experiences working with allophones. About 40% of practitioners frequently encountered difficulties working in mental health with allophone clients. Few resources were available, and calling on an interpreter was the most common practice. Interpreters were expected to play many roles, which went beyond basic language translation. There is a clear need for training of practitioners on how to work with different types of interpreters. Training should highlight the benefits and limitations of the different roles that interpreters can play in health care delivery and the differences in communication dynamics with each role.
authors.affiliation: École de Psychologie, Université Laval, Pavillon Félix-Antoine Savard, 2325 rue des Bibliothèques, Quebec, QC, GIV 0A6, Canada.
authors.forename: Camille
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brisset
authors.forename: Yvan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Leanza
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rosenberg
authors.forename: Bilkis
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vissandjée
authors.forename: Laurence J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Kirmayer
authors.forename: Gina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Muckle
authors.forename: Spyridoula
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xenocostas
authors.forename: Hugues
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Laforce
mesh_terms: D003144:Communication Barriers; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D058007:Physicians, Primary Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011792:Quebec; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014175:Translating