This paper covers four main areas in relation to providing mental health care for people seeking asylum and refuge. It firstly describes the variability in service provision for people needing the additional resource of language interpreting. Secondly, it highlights the significant level of psychological distress in adults and young people. It then describes a model of training that develops a partnership approach between the mental health practitioner and the bilingual co-worker. Finally, collaborative ways of working are suggested in order to enhance the effectiveness of their work. © 2006 Radcliffe Publishing.

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distress syndrome health service social support refugee medical education health care policy mental health care medical practice Article human psychiatrist language ability posttraumatic stress disorder