LC Interpreting Services is now SignNexus!
SignNexus sets the standard for excellence and efficiency when accommodating the diverse communication and cultural needs of individuals who are Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing.
SignNexus is a distinguished interpreting agency that specializes in American Sign Language, International Sign, and other sign language modalities. On-site and Remote Sign Language Interpreting Services are available to help organizations fulfill their obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
SignNexus offers Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) services, also known as Realtime Captioning, for live events. Remote Captioning Services are also available to facilitate ADA compliant accessibility for virtual events on any platform.
SignNexus Interpreters and Captioners have extensive experience in a variety of specialized settings.
People from all walks of life, from military veterans to movie stars, are currently living with some form of mental illness. Sadly, many encounter barriers when seeking the mental health services they need. Reaching out for help can be hard enough! Now imagine the unique set of challenges deaf people face when it comes to receiving mental health care. The risk of misdiagnosis increases dangerously without a clear line of communication and appropriate cultural mediation. Unless a qualified Mental Health Interpreter is utilized, deaf individuals are absolutely not receiving the same level of care as hearing people. Substandard mental health care services are dangerous because they complicate the treatment process and could lead to further trauma.
According to a 2012 National Institute of Mental Health estimate, there are 43.7 million adults in the United States with a diagnosed mental illness, or 18.6% of the adult population. Mental illness is a broad term to describe a wide variety of diagnoses, ranging from social phobia to PTSD; and the mental health care field includes psychotherapy, psychiatry, counseling, social work, psychological testing, substance abuse treatment, forensic therapy, and more. If a person is in need of mental health services, it is important that they are able to access the correct medical professionals in a timely fashion.
Since mental illness is not always a physical issue, clear and concise communication is necessary for diagnosis. Most health care providers do not have sufficient ASL knowledge to make a diagnosis or recommend treatments in sign language, so qualified Mental Health Interpreters are critical to this process. Mental Health Interpreters possess a unique skill set which enable them to ethically and responsibly facilitate communication between deaf patients and hearing entities.
Mental Health Interpreters interact with people of all abilities and education levels. They are capable of engaging in a nuanced dialogue between healthcare workers and deaf patients, some of whom may have limited language or information deficits. Mental Health Interpreters serve to bridge the gap and aid the deaf consumer. This means communicating in the preferred manner and on the appropriate level of the patient, working with a Certified Deaf Interpreter whenever necessary. Interpreters in this field must have a deep understanding of mental health terminology and fluency in related topics such as substance abuse or family violence.
Some deaf consumers have a lifetime experience of mental illness, which makes it difficult for them to express themselves. This is important information for health care providers. If a deaf consumer is dysfluent and not effectively communicating, the interpreter must not utilize their professional skills to cover the fact. Health care providers need to know exactly what the patient is communicating and how they are communicating it. A qualified Mental Health Interpreter understands the difference between speaking as the patient, and speaking for them.
A qualified Mental Health Interpreter will have earned at least a BA in psychology and have detailed knowledge of DSM IV Classifications. It is important that these service providers have a strong fundamental understanding of human psychology, ranging from developmental disabilities to drug addiction. The ability to recognize symptoms of mental illness and appropriately respond to individuals who may be unstable is crucial for effective communication between interpreters and patients.
It is important that these Interpreters understand the mental health care procedure, including diagnostic assessments and treatment options. They can help patients understand the purpose of specific tests, therapies, medications, and long term treatment plans. They are familiar with common practice and current trends; engaging in continuous professional development to fill gaps in knowledge.
Interpreters who work in the mental health field must be prepared to work with individuals who come from all cultural, ethnic, and social backgrounds. A qualified Mental Health Interpreter has the training and experience to perform ethically, while still demonstrating compassion. In this particular field, interpreters are interacting with vulnerable and possibly volatile individuals, many of whom have experienced some form of past trauma.
Mental Health Interpreters are culturally competent when dealing with those who have been victimized, those living with lifelong mental illnesses, or those who have a criminal past. These interpreters must be experts in observation and non-judgement, demonstrating a calm demeanor when confronted with emotionally triggering situations. Developing cultural awareness helps interpreters eliminate personal bias and provide language services more objectively.
They must also understand the culture of mental health care professionals, how service providers interact with one another, and how they engage with patients. Mental Health Interpreters are familiar with the different types of health care facilities and do their best to work within the framework of the larger mental health field. Mental health care service providers should seek to work closely with Mental Health Interpreters both before and after a session. This ensures cross cultural competency and preparedness on all sides.
The mental health care field can be a high stress work environment. There are times when mental health care providers may be exposed to violence, verbal assault, sexual aggression, or other potentially triggering situations. Working with emotionally fragile individuals, professionals in the mental health care field must develop techniques to cope with situations where their own wellbeing is compromised.
A qualified Mental Health Interpreter has good physical awareness, meaning they are perceptive and always prepared to react. They know where to stand or sit to make the patient most comfortable. They are respectful of both the patient and provider’s space. Mental Health Interpreters know when it is appropriate to intervene, and when it is necessary to advocate for safe working conditions.
These interpreters also have a keen awareness of their own limitations. If a Mental Health Interpreter feels that they are not able to effectively provide service in an unbiased way, they will acknowledge this and decline the job, directing the health care entity toward another qualified resource. If the interpreter feels an assignment is detrimental to their own emotional or mental wellness, they must be able to identify this issue and take the appropriate steps to resolve it.
Boundaries are important in any professional environment, but the delicate and nuanced nature of the mental health care profession makes boundaries a critical issue. Qualified Mental Health Care Interpreters must be able to draw clear boundaries between their professional responsibility and their desire to help another. Although an interpreter might have good intentions, if they are not the patient’s mental health care practitioner and therefore not ethically in a position to provide services or advice. Doing so can complicate treatment or even endanger the life of the deaf consumer.
There are certain situations where mental health care professionals might infringe on the rights of deaf patients. Perhaps the provider decides a course of treatment without any patient input, or they coerce patient to consent to something they don’t understand. Maybe a practitioner recommends an inappropriate course of action, such as putting a deafblind individual in group therapy.
Qualified Mental Health Interpreters work closely with patients and service providers to bridge cultural gaps and reduce abuse of deaf rights in the mental health care system. If an interpreter feels the rights of a deaf consumer are being violated, they must be willing to articulate the issue and advocate on the patient’s behalf.
Because the mental health care field is so broad and requires detailed knowledge on a breadth of topics, a professional support system is crucial to providing high quality ASL interpreting services. Qualified Mental Health Care Interpreters develop connections with others who work in the mental health care interpreting profession to understand best practice procedures, assist with ethical dilemmas, and share the highs and lows of a career that exposes service providers to raw human emotion.
Mental Health Interpreters will have a plan for self care, and work with a network of other interpreters in the same field to normalize their experiences by sharing them. Interpreting is a constantly evolving field, so engaging in an ongoing discourse with other professionals is imperative to maintaining interpreter ethics. This dialogue solidifies best practice, helping to ensure deaf consumers receive the top quality communication services they deserve, at a time when they need it most.
LC Interpreting Service is pleased to offer qualified Mental Health Interpreters in the greater NYC area. LCIS places emphasis on serving the needs of deaf consumers at a time when they may feel vulnerable, while working closely with mental health care service providers to help diagnose and treat a wide variety of mental illness.
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Resources:
http://nad.org/issues/health-care/mental-health-services/position-statement-mental-health-interpreting-services-peo
http://www.streetleverage.com/2014/01/mental-health-settings-are-sign-language-interpreters-at-risk/
http://healthcareinterpreting.org/for-interpreter-educators/mental-health-domains-competencies/
Lately it seems like American Sign Language is everywhere! It’s been making appearances at musical performances and sporting events. It can be seen in news stories, comic books, movies, and TV shows. Pop stars are using it, sports mascots are using it, even President Obama knows a little ASL. With so many people finally embracing this second American language, there has never been a better time to begin learning to sign.
In my opinion, the best reason to learn sign language is that it allows you to communicate with the estimated half million Americans who use ASL as their primary language. This gives you the opportunity to make new friends, connect with deaf classmates and coworkers, or help deaf customers feel welcome at your business. Knowing ASL, even just some basic everyday signs, sends a message to deaf people that you are willing to step outside of your hearing comfort zone to engage with them. Our society is so focused on verbal communication, sound, and noise, that deaf people often feel forgotten. Even learning how to say “hello” or take a simple food order in sign language breaks down a small barrier and can brighten another person’s day.
Knowing how to sign opens up a whole new world — a place where words exist in 3-dimensions. ASL is a beautiful visual communication form which relies on body language and facial cues. It is emotional and highly expressive. If you’re a hearing person who wants to become a better listener, learning sign language can actually help! Sign language requires eye contact and attention to detail, which makes ASL users very perceptive to subtle changes in mood.
Members of Deaf Culture are considered a linguistic minority, with ASL serving as the foundation for this unique subset of American Culture. Discovering ASL can help hearing individuals access a different perspective about the very society they live in. As a person learns the words of another culture, they can come to understand their values. The more one explores ASL, the more opportunity they have to understand the Deaf experience.
Besides breaking through the barriers between deaf and hearing culture, there are a number of other benefits to learning ASL. It makes you bilingual, which looks great on your resume. It allows you to communicate with people across a noisy room. Sometimes, such as the example of this 10 year old girl, knowing ASL can help you save a life. If you’ve never seen an ASL musical performance or ASL poetry, you are definitely missing out. Check out some videos by Peter Cook or the Deaf Jam documentary to get a little taste; but nothing compares to the live experience.
Hearing individuals who are interested in sign language have nothing to lose and everything to gain! ASL is fun to learn, and as American as apple pie. Learning a new language can be challenging, but moving outside our comfort zones encourages personal growth and development. Why limit your possibilities? You never know, maybe the romantic partner of your dreams is deaf. Not knowing sign language could prevent you from ever making that connection.
If you’ve been thinking about discovering the silent world of ASL, just start learning today! You don’t even need to leave your couch.
There are a number of completely free resources for learning sign language on your own time.
In addition to this brief list, there are hundreds of other sign language resources available online at very affordable prices. Of course, it is always best to learn one-on-one when possible. Be sure to look for classes in your community, or connect with an ASL instructor for a few structured lessons. Start today and before you know it, you will find yourself immersed in the fascinating culture of Deaf America!
