Mental health interpreting: A mentored curriculum consists of a 139 page text (9 chapters and a resource list) with an accompanying 32 minute video (VHS or DVD) of eleven interpreting vignettes. See below for a listing of the table of contents and descriptions of the interpreting vignettes.  For further information about the project that yielded the curriculum, click here and turn to page 7.

The target audience for the curriculum includes foreign language and sign language interpreters who occasionally or frequently work in mental health service settings. There is an open-captioned version of the video for deaf or hard-of-hearing viewers (the regular version of the video shows subtitles when characters speak in a foreign language and their comments are not immediately translated into English). The curriculum was designed and written by a multi-cultural team of bilingual clinicians and mental health interpreters. The text and video are designed to be used together in a learning relationship between the interpreter-trainee and an experienced teacher or mentor. The curriculum format allows for study at the interpreter and mentor's own pace, although it has been used in traditional classroom settings as well. Chapters 1 through 9 begin with a set of learning objectives and end with a learning check or brief examination, so that educational progress can be documented. At the end of most of the chapters, there are instructions about which videotape vignettes to watch, followed by discussion questions for the interpreter and mentor to talk about together to facilitate deeper appreciation of the material and issues raised. The curriculum text is written at a modest English reading level and is formatted with a 1.5 line-spaced text and wide margins to facilitate note-taking. The table of contents and descriptions of the videotape vignettes appears below. The price for the video (either VHS or DVD) and the text is $24 each ($48 for both). If you are ordering a VHS videotape, please specify if you wish the standard or open-captioned version for deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers. (The DVD includes both standard and open-captioned versions.) Checks, MasterCard, and Visa payments are all acceptable. Make checks payable to the University of Rochester (US funds only, please) or send an institutional purchase order. Our tax ID number is 16-0743209. Orders and correspondence should be sent to Dr. Robert Pollard, URMC Department of Psychiatry, 300 Crittenden Boulevard, Rochester, NY 14642 (Robert_Pollard@urmc.rochester.edu) The curriculum may also be ordered by contacting the Deaf Wellness Center at 585-275-6785 or via fax at 585-273-1117.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:
CHAPTER 1: ABOUT THIS CURRICULUM
CHAPTER 2: THE ROLE OF THE INTERPRETER
    Types of Interpreters
    The Evolving Role of Sign Language Interpreters
CHAPTER 3: ETHICS IN MENTAL HEALTH INTERPRETING
    Confidentiality
    Counseling, Advising, and Adding Personal Opinion
CHAPTER 4: MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
    Psychiatrists
    Psychologists
    Social Workers
    Psychiatric Nurses
    Students, Interns, and Residents
    Other Mental Health Workers
CHAPTER 5: MENTAL ILLNESSES AND THE DSM SYSTEM
    Diagnoses and the DSM System
    Common Axis I Diagnoses and Interview Questions
CHAPTER 6: MENTAL HEALTH SETTINGS AND CLINICIANS' OBJECTIVES
    Acute Care and Emergency Rooms
    Crisis Services
    Inpatient Services
    Outpatient Services
    Other Clinician Objectives
CHAPTER 7: INTERPRETING AND DYSFLUENT PATIENTS
    What is Dysfluency?
    The Interpreting Role and Dysfluent Patients
    Strategies for Interpreting With Dysfluent Patients
CHAPTER 8: DYNAMICS OF MENTAL HEALTH INTERPRETING WORK
    The Nature and Importance of Dynamics
    Emotions, Trauma, and Tragedy
    Difficult or Unusual People
    Danger and Control
    Confidentiality
    Transference
    Countertransference
    Cross-Cultural Dynamics
CHAPTER 9: CROSS CULTURAL ISSUES IN MENTAL HEALTH INTERPRETING
     Human Variability and the Interpreter's Role
    Broad Cross-Cultural Issues in Mental Health Interpreting
    Specific Cross-Cultural Issues in Mental Health Interpreting
RESOURCE LIST

SUMMARIES OF THE ELEVEN VIGNETTES

THE INTRODUCTION
An example of a recommended pre-session, in which a Spanish language interpreter and a clinician discuss what each other needs to know to prepare for an upcoming intake.

CULTURAL BONDS
A Russian-speaking patient makes several private side-comments to the interpreter, who then takes a moment to explain his role to her.

CULTURAL ATTITUDES TOWARD MENTAL ILLNESS
A two-part scene. In part 1, Chinese cultural values factor heavily in a consumer's reluctance to be cooperative with a clinician. In part 2, the interpreter conducts a post-session, explaining the issues and providing useful advice and information to the clinician.

I CAN'T DO YOUR JOB FOR YOU
A clinician inappropriately pressures a Russian interpreter for clinical guidance. He responds only on language and culture issues.

IT'S A SMALL COMMUNITY
An interpreter seeks confidential supervision to deal with questions and stress pertaining to outside knowledge of a psychiatric patient.

GENDER, AGE, AND CULTURE
In a pre-session, a Vietnamese language interpreter provides a clinician with guidance on how to handle gender and age issues likely to come up in the forthcoming session.

LINGUISTIC AND CULTURAL BARRIERS TO TRANSLATION
A clinician conducting a mental status exam runs into several language and cultural problems that hinder the assessment. The Spanish language interpreter provides explanation and some guidance on the spot.

LANGUAGE AND PSYCHOSIS
A two-part scene on how to (and how not to) handle interpreting for patients' whose language is disrupted by mental illness. In part 1, the interpreter cannot provide coherent translations and just gives up. In part 2, the interpreter shifts to third person and provides additional language information.

EMBARRASSING MOMENTS
A two-part scene showing alternate ways to translate a patient's comments that are offensive and embarrassing (a common interpreter concern). In part 1, the Spanish language interpreter translates verbatim; in part 2, by using some third person distance.