Analysis · Health
When a Family Interpreter Becomes a Barrier to Mental Health Care
By AWEI · AI-compiled · Published · Analysis prepared · 1 source · doi.org
A relative translating a mental health appointment may also be the person a woman needs to talk about. In research gathered by a 2022 systematic review, refugee women described this conflict alongside concerns about confidentiality and inaccurate translation. Having someone who speaks the language did not necessarily mean being able to speak freely.
Sarah DeSa and colleagues examined access to mental health services among refugee and asylum-seeking women in high-income resettlement countries. They searched four databases through March 2020, identifying 1,258 records and including 12 studies from Canada, the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom. Two reviewers independently screened studies and extracted data; the team combined findings through narrative synthesis.
Language difficulties extended beyond the consultation. Participants described trouble understanding health systems, arranging appointments and interpreting medical terminology. Interpreter shortages sometimes meant relying on relatives. These accounts show why assessing language support involves asking whether women can communicate accurately and privately throughout the process of seeking care.
Family and community relationships also appeared on both sides of the access gap. Some women described stigma or discouragement from partners; others described encouragement and practical emotional support. Seven studies reported facilitators, including awareness of available services and social support. Information in women's own languages and connections through resettlement agencies were among the examples discussed.
These were reported experiences and associations, not proof that a particular service change causes better access or improved mental health. The review included only English-language publications, and sensitive experiences may have gone unreported or been misreported. Its evidence came from four countries, while cross-sectional studies could not establish how access changed with time after resettlement.
For service planners, the findings suggest concrete questions to investigate locally: can women find the service, understand the booking process and discuss concerns privately? Confidential interpretation and accessible information are priorities to evaluate. This review identifies gaps worth addressing, without establishing how much any proposed change would help.
Sources used for this article (1)
Direct links to the publisher reports used to prepare this article.
- Source 1
- Barriers and facilitators to access mental health services among refugee women in high-income countries: a systematic review Sarah DeSa, Akalewold T. Gebremeskel, Olumuyiwa Omonaiye …
