Breaking Down Language & Cultural Barriers in Mental Health Care

Mental health issues can affect individuals of all cultures and ethnicities; however, language and cultural barriers can hinder access to care, contributing to inaccurate diagnoses, inappropriate treatment and poor patient outcomes.

Mental health professionals equipped with translated materials and culturally-appropriate resources are vital in providing equitable access and can improve patients’ understanding and even encourage more people from diverse cultures to seek help. This is especially true for individuals from cultures that do not address or acknowledge mental health issues. Individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds may have varying beliefs, values and attitudes toward this topic and its care. As a result, some cultures may not have the same level of awareness, making it difficult for individuals from these cultures to recognize or seek treatment.

If you are a mental health care provider, here are steps your organization can take to become more culturally sensitive:

• Offer interpreting services in different languages to help break down language barriers and increase access to care.
• Provide translated materials with cultural references relevant to patients.
• Train staff to gain an understanding of competency of cultural norms, beliefs and values of diverse cultures.

Here are some additional resources that can help break down language and cultural barriers in mental health care:

• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): NAMI offers resources, support, and education for individuals with mental illness and their families. They also have a helpline that can provide information about mental health resources in different languages.
• Mental Health America: Mental Health America provides resources for individuals seeking mental health care. Their website has a directory of mental health professionals who offer services in different languages.
• SAMHSA’s National Helpline: SAMHSA offers a national helpline that provides information on mental health resources and services in English and Spanish.

Promoting mental health awareness and reducing the stigma associated with mental health care through in-language communication can help improve mental health outcomes for everyone. 

Be a part of the change and help promote and prioritize equitable access to resources and support for all individuals!