Interpreting in Refugee Mental Health Settings

Interpreter Training Materials | Interpreter Performance Evaluation | Trained Interpreters Available for Assignments

The Refugee Assistance Program — Mental Health at the University of Minnesota produced the videocassettes/workbook sets described below, which are still available for purchase. The first two items listed address issues directly related to interpreting.

Video Cassette Training Program

This series, which was developed and coordinated by James N. Butcher, Ph.D. and Rosa E. Garcia-Peltoniemi, Ph.D., consists of four Videocassette/workbook sets designed for training and educational purposes in a variety of settings, with a focus on professionals in psychology, psychiatry, social work, nursing, and public health, or those currently in training for those professions. The series reflects the work and interests of several experts from the Technical Assistance Center. In addition, a number of professionals working with refugees in other areas of the country contributed their insights and expertise directly on video, provided valuable consultation, and donated a variety of visual and training resources. Each videocassette training program comes with a workbook which includes instructions/guidelines for post-video training activities, a set of handouts summarizing important points covered in the video, and various other pertinent reference materials.

  1. Benhamida L, Downing B, Egli B, and Yao Z (1988): Interpreting in refugee mental health settings. (33 minutes) Provides an overview of the interpreter's role in mental health care, detailing the kinds of skills that interpreters must have. The need for planning language interpretation services is highlighted, with special focus on the risks involved in using untrained interpreters. Viewers are introduced to the complexities of the interpreting process and to ethical and interpersonal issues involved. The special aspects of interpreting in mental health care settings are highlighted in contrast to interpreting in other settings.
  2. Jaranson J and Shiota NR (1988): Refugee mental health: Psychiatric interviewing of refugee patients. (43 minutes) Highlights the challenges facing the psychiatric practitioner when assessing psychopathology across cultures and describes how the psychiatric interview can be modified to fit the needs of refugee patients. The videocassette includes a simulated interview which illustrates mistakes often made by inexperienced clinicians. A discussion of the expectations which both refugees and clinicians may bring to the interview situation follows. Interview content, approaches to interviewing, and common problems are reviewed in detail. A number of special issues such as evaluating the needs of torture victims, addressing countertransference, and working with interpreters are highlighted.
  3. Williams CL, Garcia-Peltoniemi RB, and Ben-Porath YS (1988): Refugee mental health: The importance of primary prevention. (30 minutes) Describes how primary prevention programs can be developed to prevent mental disorders and ameliorate psychosocial stressors in refugee groups. The videocassette provides an overview of the refugee experience and introduces the concept of refugee behavior; it highlights common psychosocial stressors and mental disorders found in refugee groups. Viewers are introduced to the concept of primary prevention, which is described in contrast to the clinical practice and illustrated with the contributions of noted experts in the field of prevention research. Primary prevention measures that can be implemented in resettlement countries such as the United States are suggested.
  4. Butcher, JN (1989): Refugee mental health: Psychological assessment. (44 minutes) Describes how psychological assessment techniques can be adapted for use with refugee patients. Addresses fundamental issues such as test validity, with a special focus on cross-cultural personality assessment.

To obtain a copy of any of these video cassettes, send a written order to Dr. Amos Deinard including the following information:

  • your name
  • your organization's name
  • your address
  • your phone number
  • the name of this video

Include a purchase order or a check made payable to the University of Minnesota for $35.00 (this includes shipping and handling). Include $35.00 for each copy requested. If you have questions, please call Dr. Deinard at 612-638-0700 ext. 212.

Please address your request to:

Amos S. Deinard, M.D., M.P.H.
Refugee Assistance Program – Mental Health
MMC - Box 85
University of Minnesota
420 Delaware St. S.E.
Minneapolis, MN 55455