About the Project

Using Visuals to Combat Language Barriers in Mental Health Care

Drawing on Information Graphics and Graphic Medicine to Support Mental Health of Patients with Limited English Proficiency
Researcher: Jessica Lee, Boston University

Statement of the Problem

Largest immigrant population in the United States

  • Critical issue of language barriers in the medical field, especially with mental health care
  • ~22 million people with limited English proficiency (LEP) in the U.S., 47.8 million foreign-born people, 14.3% total U.S. population (Moslimani and Passel)
  • Worse clinical outcomes than native-born population due to language barriers, though immigrants and refugees often deal with more stressors

Common concerns about approaching and receiving mental health support

  • Fear of misunderstandings, lack of interpreters, and possibility of inadequate care and human error (Pandey et al.)

 

Background

Visual aids

  • Draw from information graphics (infographics) and graphic medicine to use as a practical knowledge translation (KT) tool
  • Improve mental health outcomes for people with LEP
  • Bridge the gap in relaying medical language and information between providers and patients
  • Captivate people effectively → process visual information easier (Barlow et al.)
  • Improve information retention

Medical Infographics

  • Increase health knowledge by sharing evidence (McSween-Cadieux et al.)
  • Enhance understanding with concise, representative communication of complex medical jargon (McCrorie et al.)
  • Present factual, logistical content

Graphic Medicine

  • Known also as “Medical Comics” or “Graphic Narrative Medicine”
  • Offers multiple perspectives of medical-related experiences, such as those of patients, families, and healthcare workers
  • Tells stories visually with panels, drawings, and words
  • Works to educate in healthcare environments and break stereotypes (Farthing and Priego)
  • Provides a relatable community, especially in support of mental health, with interactions depicted through characters drawn in panels (Farthing and Priego)

 

Methods

Goal

  • Produce and distribute visual aids in support of mental health care for people with LEP

Creation

  • Relay information about one specific mental health condition for each product to avoid confusion
  • Add comic-style graphics in an infographic template
  • Include a short strip of comic panels to encourage patients to receive necessary therapies and treatments by depicting a community where others struggle with the same issues
  • Craft sensitively, carefully, and knowledgeably
  • Recognize cultural stigmas against mental illnesses and know the audience
  • Take ample time to research the medical conditions properly and design the graphics

Dissemination and Incorporation

  • Print at hospitals and clinics
  • Establish a website with downloadable versions at no cost, including a monitored comment section for people to post suggestions or discuss topics with others
  • Use social networks (Hernandez-Sanchez et al.) and post on public forums
  • Encourage healthcare providers to use these resources with patients
  • Allow for better communication and more direct conversations to develop a safe, therapeutic relationship
  • Receive continuous feedback through modes such as surveys

Cautions

  • Do not oversimplify (Barlow et al.)
  • Indicate clearly that these visual aids are supplementary material when providing care
  • Create a thorough plan for the entire process
  • Avoid sharing incorrect information or not being able to share with others effectively

 

Conclusion

Greater vulnerability of immigrants to psychiatric illnesses than native-born Americans

  • Crucial for comfortability and accessibility to mental health support as an option for all

Excellent potential in creating visual aids that are influenced by medical infographics and graphic medicine

  • Useful for educating patients with LEP and helping them fully understand their mental health conditions