In this free Medical Spanish lesson you will learn how to have Mental Health Conversations in Spanish with your patients: Conversaciones sobre salud mental.
Here is the Mental Health Conversations in Spanish lesson that I taught to the Facebook group:
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In this free Spanish Medical Lesson you will learn:
- Relevant vocabulary related to the mental health conversations
- How to express feelings using the verbs to feel and to be in Spanish
- Mental health professional names
- How to explain the depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and post-traumatic stress in Spanish
- How to talk about suicide, psychotherapy and medical treatments in Spanish
- Other related lessons about mental health conversation in Spanish
Vocabulario Relevante – Relevant Vocabulary
- Ansiedad – Anxiety
- Afrontar
– To face - Apoyo – support
- Ataque (de pánico) – Panic Attack
- Bienestar emocional – Emotional well-being
- Depresión – Depression
- Desequilibrio – Imbalance
- El humor – Mood
- Buen humor – Good mood
- Mal humor – Bad mood
- Estado de ánimo – Mood
- Enfermedad – Disease
- Estrés – Stress
- Miedo – Fear
- Personas de confianza – Person you trust
- Amigo(a) – Friend
- Compañero(a) – Partner
- Familiar / pariente – Relative
- Trastorno: – Disorder
- bipolar – Bipolar Disorder
- de ansiedad – Anxiety Disorder
- de pánico – Panic Disorder
- de personalidad – Personality Disorder
- depresivo – Depressive Disorder
- emocional – Emotional Disorder
- Trauma / experiencia traumática – Trauma / Traumatic Experience
Unos sentimientos con sentirse o estar – Feelings with To Feel and To Be
- ¿Se siente…? – Do you feel…?
- ¿Está…? – Are you…?
- Me siento… – I feel…
- Estoy… – I am…
- Aislado(a) – Isolated
- Amenazado(a) – Threatened
- Ansioso(a) – Anxious
- Cansado(a) – Tired
- Confundido(a) – Confused
- Débil – Weak
- Enojado(a) – Angry
- Frustrado(a) – Frustrated
- Inseguro(a) – Insecure
- Nervioso(a) – Nervous
- Solitario(a) – Lonely
- Triste – Sad
- Aislado(a)
Useful Vocabulary for Mental Health Conversations in Spanish
Profesionales de salud mental – Mental Health Professionals
| Spanish | English |
| El (la) Consejero (a) | The Counselor |
El (la) Doctor (a)  | The Doctor |
| El (la) Médico (a) de cabecera | The General Practice Doctor |
| El (la) Proveedor (a) de atención primaria | The Primary Care Provider |
| El (la) Neurólogo (a) | The Neurologist |
| El (la) Psicólogo (a) | The Psychologist |
| El/La Psiquiatra | The Psychiatrist |
| El/La Terapeuta | The Therapist |
| El (la) Trabajador (a) social | The Social Worker |
Explicando la depresión – Explaining Depression
Es posible que tiene depresión si / It’s possible you have depression if:
| Spanish | English |
| Tiene un estado de ánimo bajo la mayoría del día | You have a low mood most of the day |
| Se siente cansado o le falta energía casi todos los días | You feel tired or you lack energy almost every day |
| Se siente culpable, inútil, despreciado | You feel guilty, worthless, unloved |
| Le cuesta concentrar, recordar detalles, tomar decisiones | It’s difficult for you to concentrate, remember details, make decisions |
| No puede dormir o duerme demasiado casi todos los días | You can’t sleep or sleep too much most days |
| Ya no le interesan las actividades que antes le gustaban | You are no longer interested in the activities you liked before |
| Piensa mucho en la muerte o el suicidio | You think a lot about death or suicide |
| Se siente inquieto e irritable | You feel restless and irritable |
| Siente un vacío dentro de sí mismo | You feel emptiness inside |
| Tiene dolores o problemas digestivos que no se mejoran | You have pain or digestive problems that do not get better |
Explicando la ansiedad – Explaining Anxiety
La ansiedad es un sentimiento natural. Es la reacción que su cuerpo tiene cuando siente estrés, miedo y aprensión sobre algo.
Anxiety is a natural feeling. It is the reaction that your body has when you feel stress, fear, and apprehension about something.
Cuando tiene ansiedad, siente: / When you have anxiety, you feel:
- Frecuencia cardíaca elevada – elevated heart rate
- Respiraciones rápidas – Fast breathing
- Inquietud – Restlessness
- Dificultad para concentrar – Difficulty concentrating
- Dificultad para dormirse – Difficulty falling asleep
Ansiedad normal es pasajera – va y viene pero no interfiere con su vida diaria.
Normal anxiety is temporary – it comes and goes but does not interfere with your daily life.
Si usted se siente ansioso la mayoría del tiempo, y le cuesta realizar sus responsabilidades diarias, es posible que tenga un trastorno de ansiedad
If you feel anxious most of the time, and it’s difficult for you to do your daily responsibilities, you may have an anxiety disorder.
Ataques de pánico – Panic Attacks
Ataques de pánico son una ansiedad muy intensa o exagerada para la situación actual. Puede ser repentino y sin explicación.
A panic attack is very intense or exaggerated anxiety for the current situation. It can be sudden and without explanation.
| Spanish | English |
| Ud siente: | You feel: |
| Palpitaciones | Palpitations |
| Dolor de pecho | Chest pain |
| Falta de aire | Shortness of breath |
| Pecho apretado | Tight chest |
| Que se ahoga | That ou are drowing |
| Que se va a morir | That you are going to die |
| Mareo | Dizziness |
| Náusea | Nausea |
| Sudores o escalofríos | Sweating or chills |
| Temblores | Shakiness |
Explicando el estrés postraumático – Explaining Posttraumatic Stress
El estrés postraumático puede ocurrir si usted pasa por una experiencia violenta o si usted observa una experiencia violenta.
Posttraumatic stress can occur if you go through a violent experience or if you observe a violent experience.
| Spanish | English |
| Es común padecer el estrés postraumático después de: | It is common to suffer from posttraumatic stress after: |
| Combate militar | Military combat |
| Terrorismo | Terrorism |
| Desastres naturales | Natural disasters |
| Accidentes vehiculares | Vehicle accidents |
| Ataques personales como: un asalto o violación | Personal attacks such as: an assault or rape |
| Resulta en: Dificultad para dormir, Pesadillas y Recuerdos repentinos que interfieren con su vida diaria (trabajo, relaciones, etc) | It results in: Difficulty sleeping, nightmares and flashbacks that interfere with your daily life (work, relationships, etc) |
Conversando sobre el suicidio – Talking About Suicide
| Spanish | English |
| ¿Piensa en lastimarse/dañarse/herirse? | Do you think about hurting yourself? |
| ¿Piensa en lastimar a otra persona? | Think about hurting another person? |
| ¿Piensa en quitarse la vida (suicidarse)? | Do you think about taking your own life (committing suicide)? |
| ¿Tiene un plan? / ¿Cómo lo haría? | Do you have a plan? / How would I do it? |
| ¿Alguna vez ha intentado quitarse la vida (lastimarse, lastimar a otra persona)? | Have you ever tried to take your own life (hurt yourself, hurt another person)? |
| ¿Qué pasó después? | What happened after? |
Explicando la psicoterapia – Explaining the Psychotherapy
La psicoterapia también se llama terapia verbal o conversacional.
Psychotherapy is also called verbal or conversational therapy.
Su terapeuta (psicólogo, consejero) es una persona de confianza quien le ayuda eliminar (o por lo menos controlar) los síntomas para que pueda funcionar mejor y sentirse mejor.
Your therapist (psychologist, counselor) is a trusted person who helps you eliminate (or at least to control) the symptoms so that you can function better and feel better.
| Spanish | English |
| La psicoterapia es muy eficaz en ayudarle afrontar las dificultades de la vida diaria como: | Psychotherapy is very effective in helping you cope with the difficulties of daily life such as: |
| Un trastorno | A disorder |
| Una enfermedad | An illness |
| La pérdida de un ser querido | The loss of a loved one |
Explicando tratamientos – Explaining Treatments
| Spanish | English |
| Medicamentos: | Medicines: |
| Antidepresivos: le ayudan controlar los sentimientos de la depresión. Pueden tardar hasta varias semanas en funcionar – así que necesita tomar la medicina sin falta | Antidepressants: help you control feelings of depression. It may take up to several weeks to work – so you need to take the medicine without fail |
| Conductas positivas: | Positive behaviors: |
| Ejercicio: Ejercicio regular ayuda al cuerpo bajar el estrés y bajar los síntomas de depresión. También le puede relajar | Exercise: Regular exercise helps the body reduce stress and reduce symptoms of depression. It can also relax you |
| Comunidad: Sentirse aislado y solitario empeora su depresión y ansiedad. En cambio, una comunidad positiva mejora la salud mental y bienestar emocional. | Community: Feeling isolated and lonely makes your depression and anxiety worse. Instead, a positive community improves mental health and emotional well-being. |
| Dieta: Una dieta alta en: frutas y verduras, granos enteros, proteínas magras y baja en grasa, sodio y azúcar es buena para la salud mental. | Diet: A diet high in: fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean and low-fat proteins, sodium and sugar is good for mental health. |
Empatía, Normalizando y Asegurar… – Empathy, Normalizing and Assurance
| Spanish | English |
| Entiendo | I get it |
| Es difícil | It’s hard |
| Me parece que usted… | I think that you… |
| Veo que usted… | I see that you … |
| Me alegro | I’m glad |
| Lo siento | I’m sorry |
| Es común | It’s common |
| Es normal | It’s normal |
| No hay que tener vergüenza | You don’t have to be ashamed |
| Yo estaría _____ también | I would be _ too |
| Ud puede enfrentar esto | You can face this |
| Ud es capaz de… | You are able to … |
| Hay una solución | There is a solution |
| Muchas personas han sobresalido | Many people have excelled |
Other posts in this Mental Health series:
How to Evaluate Depression in Spanish using SIG E CAPS
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Questions and Phrases to Assess Child Abuse and Neglect in Spanish
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How to Teach Coping Strategies in Spanish
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PHQ 9 and GAD 7 for depression and anxiety screenings in Spanish
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Discussing ADD and ADHD in Spanish
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Discussing PTSD in Spanish
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Discussing Anxiety in Spanish
This is Lesson 2 of 5 in our Mental Health in Spanish series. In this…
Discussing Depression in Spanish
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Explaining Depression Diagnoses & Treatments in Spanish
This Medical Spanish lesson focuses on explaining the depression diagnoses and treatments in Spanish to…
Su tarea – Your Homework
- Review the notes & vocabulary
- Identify additional points and topics to discuss with patients
- Let me know if you need help 🙂
- Remember to keep it simple if you need to
- Ask for help in the comments below
- Give it a try with your patients!
Now it’s your turn! I packaged all of this vocabulary in Spanish into some flashcards for you to study.
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Assault is agresión in Spanish
Asalto is a mugging or hold up in English.
Please make these distinctions on your materials and website.
Assault is agresión in Spanish
Asalto is a mugging or hold up.
Please make these distinctions on your materials and website.