Mental health sector asks for money for interpreters during therapy: "Lack of money leads to desperate situations"

 Mental health sector asks for money for interpreters during therapy: "Lack of money leads to desperate situations"

The mental health sector asks the government to intervene financially in the costs of social interpreters during therapy. The CGG Flemish Brabant and the Flemish Association of Clinical Psychologists (VVKP) write this in a press release. The costs of a social interpreter are high and are in addition to the costs of the consultation. "People cannot afford this, the care is postponed or canceled at all, which leads to desperate situations," says Anne Roekens, director of the CGG Flemish Brabant.

 

"In Belgium I was told that I had lung cancer," says Barbara Gluszek, a Polish woman from Leuven. She moved to our country a few years ago for love and worked here as a cleaning lady. In Poland, she had previously been diagnosed with breast cancer. "After a mastectomy, that was under control."

 

“Being diagnosed with cancer again was very difficult,” continues Gluszek. "In addition, I did not master the Dutch language well, which made it extra difficult to understand the doctors and to realize what had to be done with me." She fell into a depression and went to the psychologist. "It felt good to finally be able to talk about my feelings and what I was going through in the language I mastered, that became possible with an interpreter."  

 

"Important decision not based on Google Translate"

 

"Communication without an interpreter was impossible at Gluszek," says Maarten Leyssen, treating psychiatrist in training at CGG Vlaams-Brabant. The basis of psychotherapy is understanding each other, according to Leyssen. "Moreover, as a psychiatrist you have to make important decisions, if you have to work with Google Translate instead of an interpreter, major misunderstandings can arise."

 

The government assumes that non-native newcomers will get by, says Ayse Dogan, psychologist at CGG Vlaams-Brabant. "In case of a psychological or medical problem, you see that they often do not master the language sufficiently." According to the psychologist, some patients become panicky, stressed or even angry. "Something is wrong, but they can't explain it. It leads to desperation," Dogan continues.

 

"Sometimes children are asked to interpret"

 

Anne Roekens, director of the CGG Flemish Brabant, agrees with the psychologist: "If people are not helped in their language, you see that they often postpone care, the result is that the social costs only increase."

 

As an alternative, non-native newcomers currently often call on acquaintances or family to interpret. "That is not a good situation and has a negative effect on privacy," Roekens continues. "What can or cannot be said? The therapeutic relationship is no longer the same as if you were working with an interpreter."

 

 

It leads to harrowing situations, according to Dogan. "A mother who is suicidal because of what she has experienced, the daughter has to explain everything to the psychiatrist."

 

"The quality you offer in this way in mental health care is shameful," says Dogan.

 

"Not just Ukrainian displaced people, everyone should get help"

 

Gluszek, who previously worked as a cleaning lady, could not afford an interpreter during every visit to the doctor or psychologist. That is why she called on a social interpreter via the OCMW, but that is where the shoe pinches.

 

In September 2019, the Flemish government reversed the financial intervention for social interpreters. "Now you have to pay 48 euros per hour for the interpreter (excluding travel costs) and that is on top of the costs of the consultation," says the director of the CGG Roekens. "The patients cannot afford this, but the mental health centers or independent therapists cannot bear these costs either."