{"id":2036,"date":"2018-08-23T20:19:55","date_gmt":"2018-08-23T20:19:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/?p=2036"},"modified":"2024-08-22T14:29:47","modified_gmt":"2024-08-22T14:29:47","slug":"translating-mental-health-finding-language-solutions-in-northeast-nigeria","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/translating-mental-health-finding-language-solutions-in-northeast-nigeria\/","title":{"rendered":"Translating mental health \u2014 finding language solutions in northeast Nigeria"},"content":{"rendered":"

If the sign at the mental health clinic read, \u201cServices for mad people,\u201d would you walk in for help?<\/span><\/h1>\n

Yet that is the reality for many people in northeast Nigeria because of the difficulty in translating concepts like \u2018mental health\u2019 into Nigerian languages. Translators without Borders (TWB) is working with humanitarian experts in mental health to better understand the nuances among languages so that words can encourage use of services rather than hinder access.<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>Northeast Nigeria is linguistically diverse, with more than 30 mother tongues spoken by 1.9 million people<\/a> displaced by conflict. Often traumatized by the conflict, many internally displaced people (IDPs) could benefit from mental health services. Yet the translation of \u2018mental health\u2019 into the main two languages used in the response \u2013 Hausa and Kanuri \u2013 carries a heavy stigma, possibly keeping people away from clinics. <\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n


\n<\/span>How can those working in the mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) sector communicate information about services, when the very name of the sector scares people away? <\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n


\n<\/span>To address this question, TWB worked with affected people and sector specialists to identify terms that need to be communicated more effectively. The resulting terminology recommendations and the proposed language glossary, with terms translated into Hausa and Kanuri, promote the use of unambiguous and less stigmatizing language. Use of these terms may, by extension, increase the use of services by those who need them.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

TWB began by identifying 301 key mental health terms that are either difficult to translate, commonly misunderstood, or stigmatizing. <\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This list was then researched and discussed extensively. TWB facilitated a workshop with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) MHPSS specialists to identify particularly difficult words and discuss alternative translations, aiming to use plain language and to avoid words that stigmatize. A group of 53 internally displaced people then reviewed the translations. TWB tested comprehension among the group and explored alternative translations. Throughout the process, TWB discovered key areas where language posed a significant challenge in the delivery of mental health and psychosocial support services. <\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Points of confusion<\/h3>\n

One major finding was that many terms commonly used by English speakers when discussing mental health are heavily stigmatized or misunderstood in northeast Nigeria. \u201cMental health\u201d in Hausa is literally \u201cservices for mad people\u201d — a shocking example of stigma.<\/strong> An alternative way of discussing this sector may lie with the phrase \u201cpsychosocial support,\u201d which TWB discovered did not carry the same stigma in Hausa. <\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>Generic terms such as \u201cabuse\u201d and \u201cstress\u201d caused confusion as there is often not a comparable generic term in Hausa or Kanuri. In both languages, the translation of \u201cabuse\u201d was generally understood by respondents to refer only to \u2018verbal abuse,\u2019 similar to an insult. Similarly, \u201cstress\u201d meant only physical stress to respondents, such as the physical strain you feel after a day of hard labor. If an aid worker intends to communicate how to relieve \u201cmental stress\u201d or how to heal after experiencing \u201cphysical abuse,\u201d it\u2019s clear that miscommunication may occur. Therefore, it is best to always pair descriptive words like \u201cphysical,\u201d \u201cverbal,\u201d or \u201cemotional,\u201d with \u201cabuse\u201d and \u201cstress.\u201d <\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>A similar issue was found with the concept of a \u201csafe space.\u201d When used in an English-speaking mental health context, it refers to a physical space where one feels cared for and emotionally supported. However, those surveyed understood this concept as a place with armed guards. This is an example of how sector-specific jargon may not make sense to those who need services.<\/strong> In northeast Nigeria, the concept \u201caccepted space\u201d may translate better. <\/span><\/p>\n

The TWB MHPSS Glossary<\/b>
\n<\/span><\/h3>\n


\n<\/span>\u201cThis is a very laudable work that will hasten the delivery of services to the affected people of north east Nigeria.\u201d \u00a0<\/span>
\n<\/span>– Dr. Muhammad A. Ghuluze. Director, Emergency Medical Response and Humanitarian Services<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n


\n<\/span>To provide a solution for these issues, TWB has updated its Glossary for Nigeria with the 301 MHPSS-related terms. This glossary app includes words, definitions, sample sentences, and audio recordings for the selected terms. It can be accessed on a computer, tablet, Android, or iOS device, and can be used both on- and offline, which is useful given the poor connectivity in northeast Nigeria.<\/span><\/p>\n

The app is already being used in training sessions with positive results. Thomas Eliyahu Zanghellin, theMental Health and Psychosocial Support \/ Gender-based Violence Focal Point for the NGO INTERSOS in Maiduguri, Nigeria, has used the glossary in four training sessions already, generating \u201creally fun group work with stimulating discussions.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Language and terminology play a key role in the delivery of aid. Many sectors, including mental health and psychosocial support, use jargon and generic terms that do not readily translate in some cultures. Discussions about language allow the humanitarian world to challenge this terminology. The TWB Glossary for Nigeria<\/a> provides a potential solution, allowing affected communities to access services and claim their rights in a language they understand.<\/span><\/p>\n

Learn more about the TWB Glossary for Nigeria, and other TWB glossary projects here<\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If the sign at the mental health clinic read, \u201cServices for mad people,\u201d would you walk in for help? Yet that is the reality for many people in northeast Nigeria because of the difficulty in translating concepts like \u2018mental health\u2019 into Nigerian languages. Translators without Borders (TWB) is working with humanitarian experts in mental health … Continue reading “Translating mental health \u2014 finding language solutions in northeast Nigeria”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":2039,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[209,296,1],"tags":[98,239,62,26,14,3,233,148],"class_list":["post-2036","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-how-we-work","category-language-technology","category-uncategorized","tag-crisis-response","tag-humanitarian-aid","tag-humanitarian-response","tag-language","tag-nigeria","tag-translation","tag-translation-technology","tag-translators-without-borders"],"yoast_head":"\nTranslating mental health \u2014 finding language solutions in northeast Nigeria - Translators without Borders Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Translators without Borders is working with humanitarians to better understand the nuances of language so that words encourage the use of services.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/translating-mental-health-finding-language-solutions-in-northeast-nigeria\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Translating mental health \u2014 finding language solutions in northeast Nigeria - Translators without Borders Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Translators without Borders is working with humanitarians to better understand the nuances of language so that words encourage the use of services.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/translating-mental-health-finding-language-solutions-in-northeast-nigeria\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Translators without Borders Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/translatorswithoutborders\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2018-08-23T20:19:55+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-08-22T14:29:47+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/IMG_20180720_104245-1024x768.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1024\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"768\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Translators Without Borders\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@TranslatorsWB\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@TranslatorsWB\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Translators Without Borders\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/translatorswithoutborders.org\\\/blog\\\/translating-mental-health-finding-language-solutions-in-northeast-nigeria\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/translatorswithoutborders.org\\\/blog\\\/translating-mental-health-finding-language-solutions-in-northeast-nigeria\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Translators Without Borders\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/translatorswithoutborders.org\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/eadfd55fcdedf3bd8feded8ac5046d39\"},\"headline\":\"Translating mental health \u2014 finding language solutions in northeast Nigeria\",\"datePublished\":\"2018-08-23T20:19:55+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-08-22T14:29:47+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/translatorswithoutborders.org\\\/blog\\\/translating-mental-health-finding-language-solutions-in-northeast-nigeria\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":818,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/translatorswithoutborders.org\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/translatorswithoutborders.org\\\/blog\\\/translating-mental-health-finding-language-solutions-in-northeast-nigeria\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/translatorswithoutborders.org\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2018\\\/08\\\/IMG_20180720_104245.jpg?fit=4048%2C3036&ssl=1\",\"keywords\":[\"crisis response\",\"humanitarian aid\",\"humanitarian response\",\"language\",\"nigeria\",\"translation\",\"translation technology\",\"translators without borders\"],\"articleSection\":[\"How we work\",\"Language Technology\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/translatorswithoutborders.org\\\/blog\\\/translating-mental-health-finding-language-solutions-in-northeast-nigeria\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/translatorswithoutborders.org\\\/blog\\\/translating-mental-health-finding-language-solutions-in-northeast-nigeria\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/translatorswithoutborders.org\\\/blog\\\/translating-mental-health-finding-language-solutions-in-northeast-nigeria\\\/\",\"name\":\"Translating mental health \u2014 finding language solutions in northeast Nigeria - Translators without Borders Blog\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/translatorswithoutborders.org\\\/blog\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/translatorswithoutborders.org\\\/blog\\\/translating-mental-health-finding-language-solutions-in-northeast-nigeria\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/translatorswithoutborders.org\\\/blog\\\/translating-mental-health-finding-language-solutions-in-northeast-nigeria\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/translatorswithoutborders.org\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2018\\\/08\\\/IMG_20180720_104245.jpg?fit=4048%2C3036&ssl=1\",\"datePublished\":\"2018-08-23T20:19:55+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-08-22T14:29:47+00:00\",\"description\":\"Translators without Borders is working with humanitarians to better understand the nuances of language so that words encourage the use of services.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/translatorswithoutborders.org\\\/blog\\\/translating-mental-health-finding-language-solutions-in-northeast-nigeria\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/translatorswithoutborders.org\\\/blog\\\/translating-mental-health-finding-language-solutions-in-northeast-nigeria\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/translatorswithoutborders.org\\\/blog\\\/translating-mental-health-finding-language-solutions-in-northeast-nigeria\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/translatorswithoutborders.org\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2018\\\/08\\\/IMG_20180720_104245.jpg?fit=4048%2C3036&ssl=1\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/translatorswithoutborders.org\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2018\\\/08\\\/IMG_20180720_104245.jpg?fit=4048%2C3036&ssl=1\",\"width\":4048,\"height\":3036,\"caption\":\"Women discuss language in northeast Nigeria\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/translatorswithoutborders.org\\\/blog\\\/translating-mental-health-finding-language-solutions-in-northeast-nigeria\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/translatorswithoutborders.org\\\/blog\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Translating mental health \u2014 finding language solutions in northeast Nigeria\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/translatorswithoutborders.org\\\/blog\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/translatorswithoutborders.org\\\/blog\\\/\",\"name\":\"Translators without Borders Blog\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/translatorswithoutborders.org\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/translatorswithoutborders.org\\\/blog\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/translatorswithoutborders.org\\\/blog\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Translators without Borders\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/translatorswithoutborders.org\\\/blog\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/translatorswithoutborders.org\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i2.wp.com\\\/translatorswithoutborders.org\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2017\\\/03\\\/cropped-twblogo_3-1.png?fit=248%2C65&ssl=1\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i2.wp.com\\\/translatorswithoutborders.org\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2017\\\/03\\\/cropped-twblogo_3-1.png?fit=248%2C65&ssl=1\",\"width\":248,\"height\":65,\"caption\":\"Translators without Borders\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/translatorswithoutborders.org\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/translatorswithoutborders\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/TranslatorsWB\",\"http:\\\/\\\/translatorswb\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/company-beta\\\/1500298\\\/?pathWildcard=1500298\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/translatorswithoutborders.org\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/eadfd55fcdedf3bd8feded8ac5046d39\",\"name\":\"Translators Without Borders\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/797d99aadcc65779070b9bcdddee2a1ed6ef28301ee0b8e63c8dcc304cfdb418?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/797d99aadcc65779070b9bcdddee2a1ed6ef28301ee0b8e63c8dcc304cfdb418?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/797d99aadcc65779070b9bcdddee2a1ed6ef28301ee0b8e63c8dcc304cfdb418?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Translators Without Borders\"},\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/translatorswithoutborders.org\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/translators-without-borders\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Translating mental health \u2014 finding language solutions in northeast Nigeria - Translators without Borders Blog","description":"Translators without Borders is working with humanitarians to better understand the nuances of language so that words encourage the use of services.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/translating-mental-health-finding-language-solutions-in-northeast-nigeria\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Translating mental health \u2014 finding language solutions in northeast Nigeria - Translators without Borders Blog","og_description":"Translators without Borders is working with humanitarians to better understand the nuances of language so that words encourage the use of services.","og_url":"https:\/\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/translating-mental-health-finding-language-solutions-in-northeast-nigeria\/","og_site_name":"Translators without Borders Blog","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/translatorswithoutborders","article_published_time":"2018-08-23T20:19:55+00:00","article_modified_time":"2024-08-22T14:29:47+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1024,"height":768,"url":"https:\/\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/IMG_20180720_104245-1024x768.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Translators Without Borders","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@TranslatorsWB","twitter_site":"@TranslatorsWB","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Translators Without Borders","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/translating-mental-health-finding-language-solutions-in-northeast-nigeria\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/translating-mental-health-finding-language-solutions-in-northeast-nigeria\/"},"author":{"name":"Translators Without Borders","@id":"https:\/\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/eadfd55fcdedf3bd8feded8ac5046d39"},"headline":"Translating mental health \u2014 finding language solutions in northeast Nigeria","datePublished":"2018-08-23T20:19:55+00:00","dateModified":"2024-08-22T14:29:47+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/translating-mental-health-finding-language-solutions-in-northeast-nigeria\/"},"wordCount":818,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/translating-mental-health-finding-language-solutions-in-northeast-nigeria\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/IMG_20180720_104245.jpg?fit=4048%2C3036&ssl=1","keywords":["crisis response","humanitarian aid","humanitarian response","language","nigeria","translation","translation technology","translators without borders"],"articleSection":["How we work","Language Technology"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/translating-mental-health-finding-language-solutions-in-northeast-nigeria\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/translating-mental-health-finding-language-solutions-in-northeast-nigeria\/","url":"https:\/\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/translating-mental-health-finding-language-solutions-in-northeast-nigeria\/","name":"Translating mental health \u2014 finding language solutions in northeast Nigeria - Translators without Borders Blog","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/translating-mental-health-finding-language-solutions-in-northeast-nigeria\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/translating-mental-health-finding-language-solutions-in-northeast-nigeria\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/IMG_20180720_104245.jpg?fit=4048%2C3036&ssl=1","datePublished":"2018-08-23T20:19:55+00:00","dateModified":"2024-08-22T14:29:47+00:00","description":"Translators without Borders is working with humanitarians to better understand the nuances of language so that words encourage the use of services.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/translating-mental-health-finding-language-solutions-in-northeast-nigeria\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/translating-mental-health-finding-language-solutions-in-northeast-nigeria\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/translating-mental-health-finding-language-solutions-in-northeast-nigeria\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/IMG_20180720_104245.jpg?fit=4048%2C3036&ssl=1","contentUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/IMG_20180720_104245.jpg?fit=4048%2C3036&ssl=1","width":4048,"height":3036,"caption":"Women discuss language in northeast Nigeria"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/translating-mental-health-finding-language-solutions-in-northeast-nigeria\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Translating mental health \u2014 finding language solutions in northeast Nigeria"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/","name":"Translators without Borders Blog","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/#organization","name":"Translators without Borders","url":"https:\/\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/cropped-twblogo_3-1.png?fit=248%2C65&ssl=1","contentUrl":"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/cropped-twblogo_3-1.png?fit=248%2C65&ssl=1","width":248,"height":65,"caption":"Translators without Borders"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/translatorswithoutborders","https:\/\/x.com\/TranslatorsWB","http:\/\/translatorswb","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company-beta\/1500298\/?pathWildcard=1500298"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/eadfd55fcdedf3bd8feded8ac5046d39","name":"Translators Without Borders","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/797d99aadcc65779070b9bcdddee2a1ed6ef28301ee0b8e63c8dcc304cfdb418?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/797d99aadcc65779070b9bcdddee2a1ed6ef28301ee0b8e63c8dcc304cfdb418?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/797d99aadcc65779070b9bcdddee2a1ed6ef28301ee0b8e63c8dcc304cfdb418?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Translators Without Borders"},"url":"https:\/\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/author\/translators-without-borders\/"}]}},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/IMG_20180720_104245.jpg?fit=4048%2C3036&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8ykT2-wQ","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1999,"url":"https:\/\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/bringing-words-to-life-in-northeast-nigeria\/","url_meta":{"origin":2036,"position":0},"title":"Bringing words to life in northeast Nigeria","author":"Translators Without Borders","date":"August 10, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"I recently returned from northeast Nigeria, where Translators without Borders (TWB) is providing language support in one of the most severe humanitarian crises and linguistically diverse areas in the world. Unsurprisingly, I had many conversations about language issues with humanitarian responders. The good news is that many were already aware\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "How we work"","block_context":{"text":"How we work","link":"https:\/\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/category\/how-we-work\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"yoga ","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/IMG_20180720_110135-2-1024x733.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/IMG_20180720_110135-2-1024x733.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/IMG_20180720_110135-2-1024x733.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/IMG_20180720_110135-2-1024x733.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2013,"url":"https:\/\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/support-humanitarians\/","url_meta":{"origin":2036,"position":1},"title":"Using language to support humanitarians","author":"Translators Without Borders","date":"August 19, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Humanitarian emergencies know no language boundaries. In the 13 countries currently experiencing the most severe crises, people speak over 1,200 languages. Yet, humanitarians operating in these crises often do not have the necessary language support, making their jobs even more difficult.\u00a0 World Humanitarian Day on 19 August is an opportune\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "How we work"","block_context":{"text":"How we work","link":"https:\/\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/category\/how-we-work\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/IMG_20180720_110135-6-1024x768.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/IMG_20180720_110135-6-1024x768.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/IMG_20180720_110135-6-1024x768.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/IMG_20180720_110135-6-1024x768.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2600,"url":"https:\/\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/marginalized-mother-languages-two-ways-to-improve-the-lives-of-the-people-who-speak-them\/","url_meta":{"origin":2036,"position":2},"title":"Marginalized mother languages – two ways to improve the lives of the people who speak them","author":"Translators Without Borders","date":"February 21, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"21 February. This is the date chosen by UNESCO for International Mother Language Day, which has been observed worldwide since 2000. This year deserves special attention as 2019 is the International Year of Indigenous Languages. Both initiatives promote linguistic diversity and equal access to multilingual information and knowledge. Languages can\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Language Technology"","block_context":{"text":"Language Technology","link":"https:\/\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/category\/language-technology\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/IMG_1722-2-1024x768.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/IMG_1722-2-1024x768.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/IMG_1722-2-1024x768.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/IMG_1722-2-1024x768.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1528,"url":"https:\/\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/bringing-down-the-language-barriers-in-nigeria\/","url_meta":{"origin":2036,"position":3},"title":"Bringing down the language barriers in Nigeria","author":"Translators Without Borders","date":"August 18, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"In November 2014, when Boko Haram forces occupied the north-eastern Nigerian border town of Damasak, in Borno State, the population fled north into Niger. Two years later, after the Nigerian army retook much of Damasak, thousands of people returned. They found homes destroyed and the hospital stripped of beds and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "How we work"","block_context":{"text":"How we work","link":"https:\/\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/category\/how-we-work\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Nigeria","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/IMG_20170712_124404-1.jpg?fit=431%2C272&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":3484,"url":"https:\/\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/language-accountability-future-grand-bargain\/","url_meta":{"origin":2036,"position":4},"title":"Listen and learn: The link between language and accountability for the future of the Grand Bargain","author":"Translators Without Borders","date":"June 17, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Five years ago, the Grand Bargain\u2019s Participation Revolution vowed to reform the humanitarian sector to better listen to people affected by crises. Today, lots is still ongoing to make humanitarian organizations more accountable to the people they aim to serve and respond to their feedback. The outgoing Emergency Relief Coordinator\u2019s\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"Photo shows signage with text in English in camps for internally displaced people in Maiduguri, Borno state, northeast Nigeria.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Bakasi_22Nov2019-31-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Bakasi_22Nov2019-31-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Bakasi_22Nov2019-31-scaled.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Bakasi_22Nov2019-31-scaled.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Bakasi_22Nov2019-31-scaled.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Bakasi_22Nov2019-31-scaled.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1739,"url":"https:\/\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/putting-language-on-the-map\/","url_meta":{"origin":2036,"position":5},"title":"Putting language on the map in Nigeria","author":"Translators Without Borders","date":"December 11, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Without data on the languages of affected people, humanitarian organizations are ill-equipped to communicate with them effectively. In May of this year, Translators without Borders (TWB) started trying\u00a0to better understand what data is available regarding the language preferences of populations affected by humanitarian crises. The short answer is that there\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "How we work"","block_context":{"text":"How we work","link":"https:\/\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/category\/how-we-work\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Eric150x150.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"rttpg_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/IMG_20180720_104245.jpg?fit=4048%2C3036&ssl=1",4048,3036,false],"landscape":["https:\/\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/IMG_20180720_104245.jpg",4048,3036,false],"portraits":["https:\/\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/IMG_20180720_104245.jpg",4048,3036,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/IMG_20180720_104245.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/IMG_20180720_104245.jpg?fit=300%2C225&ssl=1",300,225,true],"large":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/IMG_20180720_104245.jpg?fit=840%2C630&ssl=1",840,630,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/IMG_20180720_104245.jpg?fit=1536%2C1152&ssl=1",1536,1152,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/IMG_20180720_104245.jpg?fit=2048%2C1536&ssl=1",2048,1536,true],"post-thumbnail":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/IMG_20180720_104245.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1",1200,900,true],"sow-carousel-default":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/IMG_20180720_104245.jpg?resize=272%2C182&ssl=1",272,182,true]},"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"Translators Without Borders","author_link":"https:\/\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/author\/translators-without-borders\/"},"rttpg_comment":3,"rttpg_category":"<a href=\"https:\/\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/category\/how-we-work\/\" rel=\"category tag\">How we work<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/category\/language-technology\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Language Technology<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/category\/uncategorized\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Uncategorized<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"If the sign at the mental health clinic read, \u201cServices for mad people,\u201d would you walk in for help? Yet that is the reality for many people in northeast Nigeria because of the difficulty in translating concepts like \u2018mental health\u2019 into Nigerian languages. Translators without Borders (TWB) is working with humanitarian experts in mental health…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2036","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/25"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2036"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2036\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2046,"href":"https:\/\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2036\/revisions\/2046"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2039"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2036"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2036"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/translatorswithoutborders.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2036"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}