205 Overcoming language barriers in mental healthcare through communication with technological tools - a qualitative study

Sep 30, 2026

Global migration increases cultural and linguistic diversity, intensifying challenges in mental healthcare access, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment. This qualitative study explores experiences, attitudes, needs, and suggestions of healthcare providers, interpreters, service users, supporters, and stakeholders regarding technological translation tools. Analyzing 175 semi-structured interviews across Germany, the Netherlands, Romania, South Africa, and China, the study identifies perceptions of effectiveness and acceptability, reporting barriers in accuracy, usability, and contextual adaptability. It also links tool promise for basic communication with skepticism toward complex communication demands.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Aims

Methods

Results

Conclusions

2nd World Congress on Migration, Ethnicity, Race & Health Abstract Book vi51 communication. This study examines the experiences, attitudes, needs, and suggestions of healthcare providers, interpreters, service users, supporters, and stakeholders regarding technological translation tools. A cross-country comparison explores similarities and differences in challenges and strategies across diverse healthcare systems. Methods: We analysed 175 semi-structured interviews with participants in Germany, the Netherlands, Romania, South Africa, and China. Participants were recruited through institutional networksand snowball sampling. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data analysis is ongoing, following Braun & Clarke’s thematic analysis approach, assisted by AtlasTi software. Results: Preliminary findings reveal diverse perceptions of translation tools in mental healthcare. Participants reported varying levels of effectiveness and acceptability, citing common barriers such as accuracy, usability, and contextual adaptability issues. Cross-country comparisons highlighted shared concerns-like reliability and trustas well as context-specific differences in access and implementation of these technologies. Conclusions: The study indicates that translation tools show promise for facilitating basic communication tasks, such as emergency interactions, or administrative scheduling. However, participants expressed skepticism about their suitability for addressing the nuanced demands of complex communication tasks, like mental healthcare, highlighting the need for further refinements in design and implementation. Insights from this research can inform the development of more inclusive communication strategies and technology-enabled solutions, ultimately guiding healthcare providers, policymakers, and technology developers in creating accessible mental healthcare for linguistically diverse populations. Abstract citation ID: ckaf180.140 205 Overcoming language barriers in mental healthcare through communication with technological tools – a qualitative study Annika Kreienbrinck1,2, Saskia Hanft-Robert1, Muhammed-Talha Topu1,2, Mike Mösko1,2 1Department of Medical Psychology, University Medical Center HamburgEppendorf, Hamburg, Germany 2Department of Applied Human Sciences, Magdeburg-Stendal University of Applied Sciences, Stendal, Germany OP 19: Mental Health 2, B302 (FCSH), September 4, 2025, 13:30 - 14:30 Aims: Global migration has contributed to increasing cultural and linguistic diversity, presenting challenges in healthcare access, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment. Language barriers in mental healthcare can lead to miscommunication, inaccurate diagnoses, and reduced quality of care. Technological tools, such as translation applications, offer potential solutions for overcoming these barriers, but their effectiveness varies, particularly for complex health-related

FAQs

What is the study aiming to understand about language barriers in mental healthcare?

The study examines the experiences, attitudes, needs, and suggestions of healthcare providers, interpreters, service users, supporters, and stakeholders regarding technological translation tools.

How was the research conducted?

Researchers analyzed 175 semi-structured interviews from participants recruited through institutional networks and snowball sampling in Germany, the Netherlands, Romania, South Africa, and China.

What do participants report about the effectiveness of translation tools?

Preliminary findings show diverse perceptions: participants reported varying levels of effectiveness and acceptability, with common barriers including accuracy, usability, and contextual adaptability.

What limitations or concerns were highlighted by participants?

Participants expressed skepticism about suitability for nuanced communication tasks in mental healthcare, emphasizing the need for further refinements in design and implementation.

Sep 30, 2026

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