Food and Health (Leaving Cert Spanish): Revision Notes
Mental health
Vocabulary
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| el consejo | advice |
| la presión | pressure |
| el cuerpo | body |
| el sentimiento | feeling |
| la felicidad | happiness |
| el miedo | fear |
| triste | sad |
| seguro/a | safe, secure |
| apoyar | to support |
| ayudar | to help |
| callarse | to be quiet |
These fundamental terms form the basis for discussing emotional states and support systems in Spanish. Pay particular attention to the gender of nouns (el sentimiento, la felicidad) as this will affect adjective agreement in sentences.
Example sentences in context:
- Muchos jóvenes sufren presión en el instituto. (Many young people suffer pressure at school.)
- Es importante expresar nuestros sentimientos. (It's important to express our feelings.)
- La felicidad depende de muchos factores. (Happiness depends on many factors.)
Essential verbs for mental health discussions
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| doler | to hurt |
| escuchar | to listen |
| evitar | to avoid |
| necesitar | to need |
| preocuparse | to worry |
| recomendar | to recommend |
| expresar | to express |
| llorar | to cry |
| sufrir | to suffer |
Practical usage examples:
- Me duele la cabeza cuando estoy estresado. (My head hurts when I'm stressed.)
- Necesitamos escuchar a nuestros amigos. (We need to listen to our friends.)
- No debes evitar hablar de tus problemas. (You shouldn't avoid talking about your problems.)
Verbs with prepositions
Many Spanish verbs require specific prepositions .
| Spanish verb phrase | English |
|---|---|
| hablar con | to talk to (someone) |
| hablar de | to talk about |
| pensar en | to think about |
| depender de | to depend on |
| preocuparse por | to worry about |
| asistir a | to attend |
Grammar note: These prepositional verbs are followed by an infinitive in Spanish, unlike English where we might use different structures. Mastering these preposition combinations is essential for natural-sounding Spanish when discussing mental health topics.
Prepositional verb examples:
- Prefiero hablar con mi madre sobre mis problemas. (I prefer to talk to my mum about my problems.)
- No me gusta pensar en el futuro. (I don't like thinking about the future.)
- Se preocupa por sus exámenes constantemente. (She constantly worries about her exams.)
Useful expressions for mental health topics
These phrases will help you express complex ideas about mental wellbeing and offer support effectively. They represent more sophisticated vocabulary for advanced discussions.
- la salud mental - mental health
- los recursos - resources
- la seguridad - safety, security
- Crear una situación segura - to create a safe situation
- Estar ahí para alguien - to be there for someone
- Buscar ayuda profesional - to seek professional help
Example sentences:
- La salud mental es tan importante como la salud física. (Mental health is as important as physical health.)
- Todos necesitamos recursos para manejar el estrés. (We all need resources to manage stress.)
Key phrases
When reading about mental health in Spanish, you'll encounter these important expressions that appear frequently in articles and discussions.
Common phrases from Spanish mental health literature:
- Todo el mundo necesita tener alguien con quien hablar - Everyone needs to have someone to talk to
- Aprender a escuchar a otras personas - To learn to listen to other people
- Reconocer cuando se sienten tristes - To recognise when they feel sad
- Dar apoyo en estos momentos - To give support in these moments
- Expresar sus sentimientos - To express their feelings
Sample response
Worked Example: Exam Response (80-100 words)
Prompt: Describe the importance of mental health support for young people.
La salud mental de los jóvenes es fundamental en nuestra sociedad moderna. Muchos estudiantes sufren presión académica y se preocupan por su futuro profesional. Es esencial que tengan personas con quien hablar sobre sus sentimientos y miedos. Los profesores y padres deben escuchar activamente y ofrecer apoyo emocional. También necesitamos crear recursos accesibles en los institutos. Cuando los jóvenes pueden expresar sus emociones libremente, desarrollan mejor su bienestar mental y pueden enfrentar los desafíos de la vida con más seguridad.
Translation: Young people's mental health is fundamental in our modern society. Many students suffer academic pressure and worry about their professional future. It's essential that they have people to talk to about their feelings and fears. Teachers and parents should listen actively and offer emotional support. We also need to create accessible resources in schools. When young people can express their emotions freely, they better develop their mental wellbeing and can face life's challenges with more confidence.
Key Points to Remember:
- Mental health vocabulary includes both emotional states (triste, felicidad) and support concepts (apoyo, recursos)
- Many key verbs require specific prepositions: hablar con, preocuparse por, pensar en
- Use phrases like la salud mental and estar ahí para alguien to sound more natural
- Practice connecting emotional vocabulary with support language to discuss mental wellbeing effectively
- Remember that discussing mental health requires sensitivity and appropriate language register