English Mental health and gender-based violence English version | Page 148

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4 . Communication skills

( See Part II and Introduction .)
Communication cannot be discussed without also talking about culture because , as discussed in Section 3 of Part III , culture affects the way we see each other and how we interpret the messages we send . As a result , conversations between people from different cultural backgrounds may take unexpected directions and may easily generate misunderstanding .
PART III : THEORY
People who are familiar with two cultures can play a vital role . They can act as go-betweens , translating and explaining not only what is said but the ways in which people communicate . For example , some cultures move quickly to the point , while others wait until a relationship has been created . Cultural brokers can facilitate the pace of a conversation , and moderate statements that are considered appropriate in one culture but offensive in another . Gifted cultural mediators can also help to identify and define problems in a manner that both sides understand , and identify solutions and ways of going forward .
If you need to use a translator for your meetings with a survivor , she should respect certain rules of professional conduct . She should introduce herself and give information about her role before you start . She should understand that everything said is confidential . She should translate only what is said and all that is said , and should not try to explain and interpret . If you ( or the survivor ) do not understand , ask for clarification and the interpreter should translate the clarification . She should speak in the ‘ first person ’ and should not take on a supporting role .
Culturally significant phrases and expressions were introduced into DSM – IV in an attempt to make diagnostic practice more culturally appropriate , relevant and representative . While this marked a first step towards exploring values in diagnostic criteria , it does not replace a thorough exploration of the values of patient and professional during the clinical process . The American Psychiatric Association ( 2002 ) recommends that five cultural elements should be considered ( See Cultural aspects , Part 1 , page 9 ). The second of these relates to the patient ’ s explanatory model of the illness , and explores cultural factors beyond race and ethnicity . However , in isolation from the other elements , awareness of explanatory models is unlikely to influence the quality of the consultation , the assessment , or management of the patient ’ s distress .
Empathy and confirmation
Communicating with survivors of GBV cannot be done without empathy . A common understanding of empathy is that it means ‘ to put yourself in someone else ’ s shoes ’, to imagine the experience of another and understand and feel what he or she understands and feels . Empathy facilitates communication . At the same time , it is difficult to pretend empathy , and communication is likely to fail if false assumptions are made about a survivor ’ s state of mind or feelings . Communication between a helper and a survivor therefore requires empathy of a sophisticated kind . To communicate , helpers need to be skilled in understanding a survivor ’ s mental and physical state of mind .
Sometimes it may be too painful or embarrassing for a survivor to talk about her feelings or thoughts , for example , of her anger or hatred . She may feel too ashamed to do so , or fear rejection , if these feelings are not culturally acceptable . To overcome this fear , the helper can assist by saying , “ I understand that you feel and think this way , it is natural , anyone would feel that way ”, etc . By going beyond mere understanding , confirmation of this kind provides a more robust form of support than empathy . This said , words of confirmation legitimise only the expression of feelings and thoughts , not possible ( re- ) actions that might be undertaken as a result of them .