Language barriers may restrict access to mental health care for people whose native language is other than English or French. While many clients use English or French efficiently as a second language, mental health settings require high language proficiency to accurately describe one's own health and to understand the recommendations provided by the clinician. Health care interpreters serve to alleviate the language barriers between health care providers and their clients. Cultural mediators or culture brokers are resource people who help to explain clinically relevant cultural differences to patients and to clinicians.

MMHRC develops and maintains a list of organizations and agencies which provide access to interpreters and culture brokers, organized by province.

This page contains links to guidelines and policy documents that relate to mental health interpreter services and cultural competency.