Dynamics of collaboration in child mental health interpreting

Refugees who have been forcibly displaced to Türkiye utilize psychosocial support services to mitigate the effects of the traumas they experienced during and after migration. Due to language barriers, these services are provided through interpreting services at various institutions in our country. In mental health interventions conducted with particularly vulnerable groups, such as children, effective support for beneficiaries depends on the collaboration between specialists and interpreters working together. Therefore, child mental health interpreting is addressed within the scope of this study, focusing on mental health activities for children conducted with the assistance of interpreters. The study aims to examine the processes of child mental health interpreting in Türkiye from the perspectives of interpreters and specialists and to explore the dynamics of their collaboration. In the first phase of the research, a thematic literature review on child mental health interpreting was conducted. Focus group interviews were held with 16 interpreters and specialists, selected through purposive sampling. The transcriptions of the interviews were thematically coded using MAXQDA24 software and analyzed and interpreted through a descriptive analysis method from a translation studies perspective. The research findings reveal that interpreters and specialists have similar attitudes and thoughts on various issues fundamental to mental health processes, such as responsibility, authority, trust, and emotional factors, and that they apply common practices throughout the process. It was found that the dynamics examined within the scope of the research vary according to the method used in the therapy process and the beneficiary group they work with. The findings obtained from the study shed light on the practices related to child mental health interpreting in Türkiye and the approaches of service providers to child mental health interpreting, revealing the field realities.