Interpreting in Mental Health, Anything Special?

Abstract

This article discusses some of the key issues of mental health talk in general, both in attitude as well as in words, and dwells upon the difficulties this can pose for interpreters. Subsequently, ways to deal with these difficulties are given. The issue of empathic stress is touched upon. It is argued that, with general background knowledge of disorders and treatment methods and with support to deal with emotional situations, interpreting in mental healthcare will be a very rewarding type of work. Without such preparation and ongoing support, interpreters may not always be able to join into the therapeutic communication properly, which may harm the progress of the treatment and may also hamper their own feelings of well-being and job satisfaction.