As the conversation around mental health continues to expand, it’s crucial that we acknowledge the evident barriers that language presents to receiving and benefiting from mental health care. This article will discuss how speech pathologists can help remove this obstacle to receiving and benefiting from mental health services. This will help by spotting unspoken language barriers.

Detecting hidden communication difficulties

Speech and language therapists estimate that a good percentage of people who have mental health needs also have speech, language, or communication difficulties. It is crucial to involve speech pathologists in the identification and treatment of these covert communication difficulties.

Speech pathologists could also advance to masters in speech language pathology online classes to provide even better care to the clients. Once these problem areas have been identified, speech pathologists can lend a hand to those working in mental health by doing the following:

• Proposing different methods of interaction
• Advice on how to make therapy sessions more understandable
• Creating individualised images to enrich conversations.
• Offering one-on-one help to the client via speech therapy

Evoking the therapeutic relationship

Problems in the therapeutic relationship between a psychiatrist and their patient can arise when there are communication breakdowns between the two parties. By assisting in clear and effective communication and providing back-up for individualised treatment plans, speech pathologists can strengthen the rapport between mental health clinicians and their patients. Clinicians in the field of mental health can better meet their patients’ needs if they are able to have an open dialogue with them.

Incorporating interdisciplinary education

Speech pathologists can use interprofessional education to clear up common misunderstandings about the relationship between communication disorders and psychological health. Possible sources of confusion include:

• Problems with communication being less urgent
• Only mental health issues can cause communication problems.
• There is no way to fix the communication problems.
• The underestimation of the effect that difficulties in communication have on mental health

By teaching speech pathologists how to work with clinicians from other fields, they can help those working with mentally ill patients. This will help them overcome communication barriers. 

Accessing mental health services

Individuals with language impairments may face several significant obstacles. This is mostly true when they try to gain access to mental health services. Speech pathologists can help make these services more accessible. They do this by identifying and removing any stumbling blocks caused by a lack of communication. They can suggest changes to the aforementioned systems that would improve access to mental health care. In addition, speech pathologists can collaborate with mental health teams, developing individualised strategies that account for each patient’s unique set of skills, interests, and challenges in the realm of verbal expression.

Aiding medication management

Medication labels and instructions can be confusing. The directions may be brief, written in a very small font, consist entirely of text, or use inaccessible medical terminology to describe side effects. Patients can greatly benefit from the assistance of speech pathologists in making sense of these descriptions and directives.

When it comes to medication side effects, speech therapists can keep an eye out for things like dry mouth and trouble swallowing. Clinicians in the field of mental health can benefit from the assistance of speech pathologists when it comes to the management of medication plans and the mitigation of risks associated with adverse side effects.

Diagnosing co-occurring difficulties

Individuals experiencing mental health issues may also struggle with communicating and/or swallowing for reasons unrelated to their mental health. In some cases, mental health professionals can help with communication issues without resorting to speech therapy.

However, specialised assessment and intervention from a speech pathologist can be much needed for co-occurring difficulties and hidden communication challenges resulting in dual diagnosis. Mental health can be negatively impacted by difficulties communicating and swallowing, which can lead to feelings of isolation and shame. If these issues are addressed, the detrimental effects of communication and swallowing difficulties on quality of life can be mitigated, leading to better mental health outcomes.

Endnote 

The role of the speech pathologist in mental health is not only poorly understood by the general public. But also by those working in the field of speech therapy. Speech pathologists play a crucial role in enhancing patient care.  They do this by improving outcomes for those with mental health needs. Speech pathologists and mental health clinicians working together can provide patients with more tailored treatment. They also offer better outcomes and easier access to care. 

Speech pathologists can help increase service accessibility, boost therapy outcomes, and provide better care for patients. They do this by identifying and addressing latent communication and swallowing challenges. Speech pathologists play an important role in mental health services. It’s time for people seeking mental health support to recognise, learn about, and support that role.

David Radar, a psychology graduate from the University of Hertfordshire, has a keen interest in the fields of mental health, wellness, and lifestyle.