Exploring the experience of Polish interpreters who interpret for mental health professionals: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

Literature Review: The aim of the review was to explore the research literature in relation to the experiences of interpreters of migrants in a mental health context. A systematic review of the literature was carried out in order to provide a thematic synthesis of the findings of previous research. Of the 1805 articles found, eleven met the inclusion criteria for the review. The process followed Thomas and Harden (2008) recommendation of data collection, critical appraisal and thematic synthesis. In total, five themes were uncovered. These were ‘mental health interpreting is an enhanced role’; ‘bearing witness’; ‘emotional impact’; ‘relationship matters’ and ‘coping (trial and error)’. The literature purported to show the added complexities of interpreting when compared to non mental health settings. Interpreters can be emotionally affected whilst working in mental health settings, this can relate to bearing witness to traumatic stories which can cause distress and affect their wellbeing. Research Report: The research aimed to understand how Polish interpreters experience their roles in adult mental health settings and to understand how they view the triadic relationship between themselves, client and mental health professional when interpreting. Six participants were recruited from interpreting services and each took part in semi-structured interviews. Interviews were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. The participants’ accounts clustered around one superordinate theme of ‘being paid to be a machine for a human role’. This was made up of three themes: ‘Just a linguist?’, ‘Unspoken alliances’ and ‘Communicating emotional reactions’. The findings of the current research emphasise the importance for clinicians, mental health and interpreting services to take into account the emotional impact, and disempowerment caused by structural systemic factors which limit the voice of the interpreter. Critical Appraisal: Finally, the critical appraisal offers the researchers’ reflections on the research process, methodological limitations and proposals for future research.