Language, culture, and task shifting - an emerging challenge for global mental health
Date
2014-02
Authors
Swartz, Leslie
Kilian, Sanja
Twesigye, Justus
Attah, Dzifa
Chiliza, Bonginkosi
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Co-Action Publishing
Abstract
Language is at the heart of mental health care. Many high-income countries have sophisticated interpreter
services, but in low- and middle-income countries there are not sufficient professional services, let alone
interpreter services, and task shifting is used. In this article, we discuss this neglected issue in the context of
low- and middle-income countries, where task shifting has been suggested as a solution to the problem
of scarce mental health resources. The large diversity of languages in low- and middle-income countries,
exacerbated by wide-scale migration, has implications for the scale-up of services. We suggest that it would be
useful for those who are working innovatively to develop locally delivered mental health programmes in low-
and middle-income countries to explore and report on issues of language and how these have been addressed.
We need to know more about local challenges, but also about local solutions which seem to work, and for this
we need more information from the field than is currently available
Description
Publication of this article was funded by the Stellenbosch University Open Access Fund.
The original publication is available at http://www.globalhealthaction.net
Please cite as follows:
Swartz, L. et al. 2014. Language, culture, and task shifting - an emerging challenge for global mental health. Glob Health Action, 7, doi:10.3402/gha.v7.23433.
The original publication is available at http://www.globalhealthaction.net
Please cite as follows:
Swartz, L. et al. 2014. Language, culture, and task shifting - an emerging challenge for global mental health. Glob Health Action, 7, doi:10.3402/gha.v7.23433.
Keywords
Mental health, Interpreter services, Poor people -- Mental health services
Citation
Swartz, L. et al. 2014. Language, culture, and task shifting - an emerging challenge for global mental health. Glob Health Action, 7, doi:10.3402/gha.v7.23433.