improving the quality of mental health interpreting in victoria

■ Interpreting for the deaf / deaf mental health issues
The issue of ‘confidentiality’ was suggested as an important topic. However, through
discussions it was considered that it would fit within the ‘role of the interpreter in mental
health settings’, and would require a separate topic.
The way that confidentiality is seen as it relates to issues of stigma for people experiencing
mental illness and their families was also suggested as a topic.
Given we are talking about the context of mental illness, issues of social and
familial stigma are still uppermost in the minds of those who are the recipients
of interpreting services.
MHIRG member.
Potential Contributions of MHIRG Member Organization
Representatives were prepared to contribute mostly through curriculum development and
delivery, together with promotion and administration. All members expressed continuing
commitment to working towards the development of a mental health interpreting
curriculum and training program.
iv. Findings from Mental Health Interpreting Reference Group
(MHIRG) Meetings
a. First Meeting of the MHIRG
Thirteen members attended the first meeting of the MHIRG. Key issues discussed at the
meeting included:
Debriefing
Interpreter ‘self-care’ should be taught within training programs. However there should also
be education of mental health services staff to ensure interpreters needs in such situations
are not overlooked. Supervision and interpreter peer review groups may be other methods
for ensuring the care of interpreters. Another suggestion was made to introduce a mentoring
system whereby trained interpreters could provide support and mentoring to less
experienced interpreters.
Another important point relates to the need for briefing of interpreters before appointments
in mental health settings. However, it is recognised that interpreters may not have time for
briefing or debriefing as they may lose income if they did. In this case, the group
recognised that there are systemic issues to be addressed for the provision of briefing and
debriefing to be integrated into practices within services. Further clarification and protocols
need to be established regarding whose responsibility it is for the debriefing of interpreters
working in mental health settings.
Program development logistics
The optimal length of a program was discussed; for example if a program is too brief it
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