The Reading / Listening - Mental Health - Level 3

A new study has found that more and more people are experiencing mental health problems. Research from the University of Queensland and Harvard Medical School found that half of us will have at least one mental health disorder by the time we are 75. Professor John McGrath, lead author of the study, said the most common issues were mood disorders, such as depression or anxiety. He added that "the risk of certain mental disorders differed by sex". The three most common mental health disorders among women were depression, phobias that make daily life more difficult and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). Men suffered most from alcohol abuse, depression, and phobias.

The researchers looked at data from 32 mental health surveys from the WHO. Over 156,000 people in 29 countries answered questions about their lifestyle and mental well-being. The researchers analyzed the questionnaires to find out when mental health problems first started in people. They also assessed the risk of people experiencing 13 mental disorders. These included panic attacks, anxiety, drug abuse and ADHD. An important finding of the study was that for many people, mental health disorders first appeared in childhood or in teenage years. The study concluded that young people needed more help in the "critical parts of their lives". They need services that find and treat their mental health problems.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Mental Health - Level 0,  Mental Health - Level 1   or  Mental Health - Level 2

Sources
  • https://newatlas.com/health-well-being/half-population-predicted-to-develop-mental-health-disorder-by-75/
  • https://neurosciencenews.com/mental-health-population-23724/
  • https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-01/half-population-mental-health-disorders-queensland-study/102668734


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. MENTAL HEALTH: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about mental health. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
       study / mental health / problems / disorders / mood / depression / anxiety / phobias /
       researchers / data / well-being / risk / ADHD / childhood / teenage years / services
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. HELP: Students A strongly believe all children should receive mental health help; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. PHOBIAS: How serious are these phobias? How can we help people with these phobias? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.


Fear of…

How Serious?

How We Can Help People

social situations

 

 

being injured

 

 

public speaking

 

 

having no money

 

 

crowds

 

 

the dark

 

 
MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

5. HEALTH: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "health". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. TREATMENT: Rank these with your partner. Put the best treatments for mental health disorders at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Talking
  • Medicine
  • Lifestyle change
  • No social media
  • Exercise
  • Move to the countryside
  • Counselling
  • Meditation

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. study a. Not less than.
      2. at least b. Happening, found, or done often.
      3. disorder c. The most important.
      4. lead d. An illness or condition that stops normal physical or mental functions.
      5. common e. A book or article on a particular topic of research.
      6. phobia f. Use something that is bad for you too much.
      7. abuse g. An extreme or illogical fear of or strong dislike of something.

    Paragraph 2

      8. data h. Arrived at a judgement or opinion by reasoning.
      9. well-being i. Facts and statistics collected together for reference or analysis.
      10. analyzed j. A feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain outcome.
      11. assessed k. Give medical care or attention to; try to heal or cure.
      12. anxiety l. Looked at something carefully and in detail, typically in order to explain.
      13. concluded m. Evaluated or estimated the nature, ability, or quality of.
      14. treat n. The state of being comfortable, healthy, or happy.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. The article says record numbers of people have mental health problems. T / F
  2. We will all have a mental health disorder when we are 75 years old.     T / F
  3. The most common mental health disorders are related to mood.     T / F
  4. Both men and women commonly suffered from depression.     T / F
  5. Researchers looked at people's mental health in 29 countries.     T / F
  6. Researchers said some people had 13 mental health problems.     T / F
  7. Very few teenagers had mental health problems.     T / F
  8. The article says young people need mental health services.     T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

  1. study
  2. disorder
  3. common
  4. sex
  5. abuse
  6. data
  7. well-being
  8. assessed
  9. critical
  10. treat
  1. widespread
  2. good health
  3. misuse
  4. heal
  5. illness
  6. evaluated
  7. investigation
  8. important
  9. gender
  10. information

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

  1. more and
  2. half of us will have at
  3. by the
  4. the most common issues
  5. post-traumatic
  6. They also assessed
  7. panic
  8. first appeared in childhood
  9. in the critical parts
  10. services that find and treat their
  1. were mood disorders
  2. attacks
  3. mental health problems
  4. time we are 75
  5. of their lives
  6. or in teenage years
  7. more people
  8. stress disorder
  9. the risk
  10. least one

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
stress
half
among
study
phobias
issues
time
anxiety

A new (1) _____________________ has found that more and more people are experiencing mental health problems. Research from the University of Queensland and Harvard Medical School found that (2) _____________________ of us will have at least one mental health disorder by the (3) _____________________ we are 75. Professor John McGrath, lead author of the study, said the most common (4) _____________________ were mood disorders, such as depression or (5) _____________________. He added that "the risk of certain mental disorders differed by sex". The three most common mental health disorders (6) _____________________ women were depression, phobias that make daily life more difficult and PTSD (post-traumatic (7) _____________________ disorder). Men suffered most from alcohol abuse, depression, and (8) _____________________.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
assessed
well-being
abuse
lives
data
treat
analyzed
teenage

The researchers looked at (9) _____________________ from 32 mental health surveys from the WHO. Over 156,000 people in 29 countries answered questions about their lifestyle and mental (10) _____________________. The researchers (11) _____________________ the questionnaires to find out when mental health problems first started in people. They also (12) _____________________ the risk of people experiencing 13 mental disorders. These included panic attacks, anxiety, drug (13) _____________________ and ADHD. An important finding of the study was that for many people, mental health disorders first appeared in childhood or in (14) _____________________ years. The study concluded that young people needed more help in the "critical parts of their (15) _____________________". They need services that find and (16) _____________________ their mental health problems.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) Harvard Medical School found that half of us will have ______
     a.  at least one
     b.  at last one
     c.  at lest one
     d.  at lost one
2)  lead author of the study said the most common issues ______
     a.  were brood disorders
     b.  were food disorders
     c.  were dude disorders
     d.  were mood disorders
3)  He added that the risk of certain mental disorders ______
     a.  different by sex
     b.  differed by sex
     c.  differ by sex
     d.  difference by sex
4)  phobias that make daily life more difficult and PTSD - post-______
     a.  traumatic stressed disorder
     b.  traumatic dress disorder
     c.  traumatic stress disorder
     d.  traumatic stresses disorder
5)  Men suffered most from alcohol abuse, ______
     a.  depressive, and phobias
     b.  depression, and faux beer
     c.  depression, and faux bear
     d.  depression, and phobias

6)  The researchers looked at data from 32 mental health surveys ______
     a.  from the WHO
     b.  from the WHY
     c.  from the WHOM
     d.  from the HOW
7)  156,000 people in 29 countries answered questions about their lifestyle ______
     a.  and menthol well-being
     b.  and men tall well-being
     c.  and mentally well-being
     d.  and mental well-being
8)  find out when mental health problems first started in people. They also ______
     a.  assessed the risk
     b.  assessed the brisk
     c.  assessed the risqué
     d.  assessed the frisk
9)  mental disorders first appeared in childhood or ______
     a.  in teenagers' years
     b.  in teenage year
     c.  in teenage years
     d.  in teenaged year
10)  The study concluded that young people needed more help in ______
     a.  the critical pats
     b.  the critical parts
     c.  the critical partners
     d.  the critical parties

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

A new study has found that (1) ____________________ people are experiencing mental health problems. Research from the University of Queensland and Harvard Medical School found that (2) ____________________ will have at least one mental health disorder by the time we are 75. Professor John McGrath, lead author of the study, said the most common issues were mood disorders, (3) ____________________ or anxiety. He added that "the (4) ____________________ mental disorders differed by sex". The three most common mental health disorders among women were depression, phobias that (5) ____________________ more difficult and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). Men (6) ____________________ alcohol abuse, depression, and phobias.

The researchers looked (7) ____________________ 32 mental health surveys from the WHO. Over 156,000 people in 29 countries answered questions about their (8) ____________________ well-being. The researchers analyzed the questionnaires to find out when mental health problems first started in people. They also (9) ____________________ of people experiencing 13 mental disorders. These included panic attacks, anxiety, drug abuse and ADHD. An (10) ____________________ the study was that for many people, mental health disorders first appeared in childhood or (11) ____________________. The study concluded that young people needed more help in the "critical parts of their lives". They need services that (12) ____________________ their mental health problems.

Comprehension questions

  1. What medical school helped to conduct the research in this article?
  2. How many mental health disorders will people have by the age of 75?
  3. What does the article say are the most common disorders?
  4. What do women suffer from besides depression and phobias?
  5. What do men suffer from besides alcohol abuse and phobias?
  6. How many people were part of this research?
  7. What kinds of attacks did the researchers look at?
  8. When do mental disorders first appear in people?
  9. What does the article say young people need more of?
  10. What might services find and treat in children?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What medical school helped to conduct the research in this article?
a) London
b) Harvard
c) Paris
d) Tokyo
2) How many mental health disorders will people have by the age of 75?
a) dozens
b) many
c) one or two
d) at least one
3) What does the article say are the most common disorders?
a) mood disorders
b) anxiety disorders
c) phobias
d) depressive disorders
4) What do women suffer from besides depression and phobias?
a) PSTD
b) PTDS
c) PTSD
d) TPSD
5) What do men suffer from besides alcohol abuse and phobias?
a) panic attacks
b) depression
c) drug abuses
d) ADHD

6) How many people were part of this research?
a) exactly 156,000
b) fewer than 156,000
c) over 156,000
d) around 156,000
7) What kinds of attacks did the researchers look at?
a) deadly attacks
b) serious attacks
c) heart attacks
d) panic attacks
8) When do mental disorders first appear in people?
a) in childhood
b) at the age of four
c) during teenage years
d) in the early 20s
9) What does the article say young people need more of?
a) help
b) peace
c) sleep
d) free time
10) What might services find and treat in children?
a) headaches
b) mental health problems
c) illnesses
d) growing pains

Role play

Role  A – Medicine
You think medicine is the best treatment for mental health disorders. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their treatments aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): no social media, exercise or counselling.

Role  B – No Social Media
You think no social media is the best treatment for mental health disorders. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their treatments aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): medicine, exercise or counselling.

Role  C – Exercise
You think exercise is the best treatment for mental health disorders. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their treatments aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): no social media, medicine or counselling.

Role  D – Counselling
You think counselling is the best treatment for mental health disorders. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their treatments aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): no social media, exercise or medicine.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'mental'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'health'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • Share your findings with your partners.

    • Make questions using the words you found.

    • Ask your partner / group your questions.

    2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

    •Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

    3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

    4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

    5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

    • experiencing
    • half
    • lead
    • such
    • added
    • daily
    • data
    • 29
    • 13
    • important
    • teenage
    • treat

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper. When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Mental Health

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'mental'?
    3. What do you know about mental health problems?
    4. How dangerous are mental health disorders?
    5. How can people with mental issues be helped?
    6. What do you think of half the world having a mental health disorder?
    7. How stressful is your life?
    8. How can we help people with depression?
    9. What do you know about phobias?
    10. Is life becoming more stressful?

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'health'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What mental health issues do teenagers have?
    5. Is it easier to treat mental or physical health?
    6. Have you ever had a panic attack?
    7. How important is talking to someone about your mental health?
    8. Will life be easier in the future?
    9. What services are available to help people in your country?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the researchers?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    A new study has found that more and (1) ____ people are experiencing mental health problems. Research from the University of Queensland and Harvard Medical School found that half of (2) ____ will have at least one mental health disorder by the (3) ____ we are 75. Professor John McGrath, lead author of the study, said the most common issues were (4) ____ disorders, such as depression or anxiety. He added that "the risk of certain mental disorders differed (5) ____ sex". The three most common mental health disorders among women were depression, phobias that make daily life more difficult and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). Men suffered most (6) ____ alcohol abuse, depression, and phobias.

    The researchers looked at (7) ____ from 32 mental health surveys from the WHO. Over 156,000 people in 29 countries answered questions about their lifestyle and mental (8) ____. The researchers analyzed the questionnaires to find out when mental health problems first started in people. They also (9) ____ the risk of people experiencing 13 mental disorders. These included panic (10) ____, anxiety, drug abuse and ADHD. An important finding of the study was that for many people, mental health disorders (11) ____ appeared in childhood or in teenage years. The study concluded that young people needed more help in the "critical parts of their lives". They need services that find and (12) ____ their mental health problems.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     many     (b)     much     (c)     more     (d)     most     
    2. (a)     us     (b)     them     (c)     they     (d)     we    
    3. (a)     time     (b)     age     (c)     years     (d)     old    
    4. (a)     mood     (b)     brood     (c)     good     (d)     hood    
    5. (a)     of     (b)     by     (c)     at     (d)     in    
    6. (a)     in     (b)     at     (c)     for     (d)     from    
    7. (a)     statistic     (b)     figure     (c)     data     (d)     base    
    8. (a)     well     (b)     goodness     (c)     nicety     (d)     well-being    
    9. (a)     assessed     (b)     recessed     (c)     obsessed     (d)     depressed    
    10. (a)     hits     (b)     attacks     (c)     criticisms     (d)     invasions    
    11. (a)     second     (b)     first     (c)     thirdly     (d)     fourth    
    12. (a)     threat     (b)     tweet     (c)     treat     (d)     treaty

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. people are gcienenerxpi mental health problems
    2. the most common esussi
    3. depression or etnixya
    4. the risk of rcaenit mental disorders
    5. post-cautrtami stress disorder
    6. alcohol eusab

    Paragraph 2

    1. data from 32 mental health vrussey
    2. questions about their stelliyfe and mental well-being
    3. They also sessaeds the risk
    4. disorders first appeared in cddliohho
    5. the lictacir parts of their lives
    6. terat their mental health problems

    Put the text back together

    (...)  questionnaires to find out when mental health problems first started in people. They also assessed the risk
    (...)  The researchers looked at data from 32 mental health surveys from the WHO. Over 156,000 people in
    (...)  of people experiencing 13 mental disorders. These included panic attacks, anxiety, drug
    (...)  problems. Research from the University of Queensland and Harvard Medical School found that half
    (...)  childhood or in teenage years. The study concluded that young people needed more
    (...)  author of the study, said the most common issues were mood disorders, such as depression
    (...)  life more difficult and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). Men suffered most from alcohol abuse, depression, and phobias.
    (...)  of us will have at least one mental health disorder by the time we are 75. Professor John McGrath, lead
    (  1  ) A new study has found that more and more people are experiencing mental health
    (...)  common mental health disorders among women were depression, phobias that make daily
    (...)  or anxiety. He added that "the risk of certain mental disorders differed by sex". The three most
    (...)  29 countries answered questions about their lifestyle and mental well-being. The researchers analyzed the
    (...)  help in the "critical parts of their lives". They need services that find and treat their mental health problems.
    (...)  abuse and ADHD. An important finding of the study was that for many people, mental health disorders first appeared in

    Put the words in the right order

    1. mental   experiencing   More   health   people   problems   .   are
    2. least   us   Half   of   at   one   .   have   will
    3. disorders   .   common   mood   issues   most   were   The
    4. sex   .   of   risk   differed   mental   The   by   disorders
    5. daily   difficult   .   Phobias   that   more   life   make
    6. at   health   mental   data   looked   Researchers   from   surveys   .
    7. out   health   Find   first   mental   started   .   when   problems
    8. people   risk   disorders   .   of   experiencing   Assessed   the   mental
    9. needed   People   in   help   parts   .   critical   the   more
    10. health   and   find   Services   problems   .   treat   mental   that

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    A new study has found that more and many / more people are experiencing mental health problems. Research from the University of Queensland and Harvard Medical School founded / found that half of us / them will have at least one mental health disorder by the time / age we are 75. Professor John McGrath, lead author of the study, said the most common / commonly issues were mood disorders, such like / as depression or anxiety. He added that "the risk of certain mental disorders different / differed by sex". The three most common mental health disorders among / between women were depression, phobias that make daily live / life more difficult and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). Men suffered most from alcohol abuse, depressed / depression, and phobias.

    The researchers looked at data from / for 32 mental health surveys from the WHO. Over 156,000 people in / at 29 countries answered questions about their lifestyle and mentally / mental well-being. The researchers analyzed the questionnaires to find out / up when mental health problems first started in / on people. They also assessed the risk of people experiencing 13 mental disorders. These included panics / panic attacks, anxiety, drug abuse and ADHD. An importance / important finding of the study was that for many people, mental health disorders firstly / first appeared in childhood or in teenage years. The study concluded that young people needed more help / helpful in the "critical parts of their lives". They need services that find and threat / treat their mental health problems.

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct. Look up the definition of new words.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    _  n_w  st_dy  h_s  f__nd  th_t  m_r_  _nd  m_r_  p__pl_  _r_  _xp_r__nc_ng  m_nt_l  h__lth  pr_bl_ms.  R_s__rch  fr_m  th_  _n_v_rs_ty  _f  Q___nsl_nd  _nd  H_rv_rd  M_d_c_l  Sch__l  f__nd  th_t  h_lf  _f  _s  w_ll  h_v_  _t  l__st  _n_  m_nt_l  h__lth  d_s_rd_r  by  th_  t_m_  w_  _r_  75.  Pr_f_ss_r  J_hn  McGr_th,  l__d  __th_r  _f  th_  st_dy,  s__d  th_  m_st  c_mm_n  _ss__s  w_r_  m__d  d_s_rd_rs,  s_ch  _s  d_pr_ss__n  _r  _nx__ty.  H_  _dd_d  th_t  "th_  r_sk  _f  c_rt__n  m_nt_l  d_s_rd_rs  d_ff_r_d  by  s_x".  Th_  thr__  m_st  c_mm_n  m_nt_l  h__lth  d_s_rd_rs  _m_ng  w_m_n  w_r_  d_pr_ss__n,  ph_b__s  th_t  m_k_  d__ly  l_f_  m_r_  d_ff_c_lt  _nd  PTSD  (p_st-tr__m_t_c  str_ss  d_s_rd_r).  M_n  s_ff_r_d  m_st  fr_m  _lc_h_l  _b_s_,  d_pr_ss__n,  _nd  ph_b__s.

    Th_  r_s__rch_rs  l__k_d  _t  d_t_  fr_m  32  m_nt_l  h__lth  s_rv_ys  fr_m  th_  WH_.  _v_r  156,000  p__pl_  _n  29  c__ntr__s  _nsw_r_d  q__st__ns  _b__t  th__r  l_f_styl_  _nd  m_nt_l  w_llb__ng.  Th_  r_s__rch_rs  _n_lyz_d  th_  q__st__nn__r_s  t_  f_nd  __t  wh_n  m_nt_l  h__lth  pr_bl_ms  f_rst  st_rt_d  _n  p__pl_.  Th_y  _ls_  _ss_ss_d  th_  r_sk  _f  p__pl_  _xp_r__nc_ng  13  m_nt_l  d_s_rd_rs.  Th_s_  _ncl_d_d  p_n_c  _tt_cks,  _nx__ty,  dr_g  _b_s_  _nd  _DHD.  _n  _mp_rt_nt  f_nd_ng  _f  th_  st_dy  w_s  th_t  f_r  m_ny  p__pl_,  m_nt_l  h__lth   d_s_rd_rs  f_rst  _pp__r_d  _n  ch_ldh__d  _r  _n  t__n_g_  y__rs.  Th_  st_dy  c_ncl_d_d  th_t  y__ng  p__pl_  n__d_d  m_r_  h_lp  _n  th_  "cr_t_c_l  p_rts  _f  th__r  l_v_s".  Th_y  n__d  s_rv_c_s  th_t  f_nd  _nd  tr__t  th__r  m_nt_l  h__lth  pr_bl_ms.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    a new study has found that more and more people are experiencing mental health problems research from the university of queensland and harvard medical school found that half of us will have at least one mental health disorder by the time we are 75 professor john mcgrath lead author of the study said the most common issues were mood disorders such as depression or anxiety he added that the risk of certain mental disorders differed by sex the three most common mental health disorders among women were depression phobias that make daily life more difficult and ptsd posttraumatic stress disorder men suffered most from alcohol abuse depression and phobias

    the researchers looked at data from 32 mental health surveys from the who over 156000 people in 29 countries answered questions about their lifestyle and mental well-being the researchers analyzed the questionnaires to find out when mental health problems first started in people they also assessed the risk of people experiencing 13 mental disorders these included panic attacks anxiety drug abuse and adhd an important finding of the study was that for many people mental health disorders first appeared in childhood or in teenage years the study concluded that young people needed more help in the critical parts of their lives they need services that find and treat their mental health problems

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Anewstudyhasfoundthatmoreandmorepeopleareexperiencingment
    alhealthproblems.ResearchfromtheUniversityofQueenslandandHar
    vardMedicalSchoolfoundthathalfofuswillhaveatleastonementalhealt
    hdisorderbythetimeweare75.ProfessorJohnMcGrath,leadauthorofth
    estudy,saidthemostcommonissuesweremooddisorders,suchasdepr
    essionoranxiety.Headdedthat"theriskofcertainmentaldisordersdiffe
    redbysex".Thethreemostcommonmentalhealthdisordersamongwo
    menweredepression,phobiasthatmakedailylifemoredifficultandPTS
    D(post-traumaticstressdisorder).Mensufferedmostfromalcoholab
    use,depression,andphobias.Theresearcherslookedatdatafrom32me
    ntalhealthsurveysfromtheWHO.Over156,000peoplein29countriesa
    nsweredquestionsabouttheirlifestyleandmentalwell-being.Therese
    archersanalyzedthequestionnairestofindoutwhenmentalhealthprob
    lemsfirststartedinpeople.Theyalsoassessedtheriskofpeopleexperie
    ncing13mentaldisorders.Theseincludedpanicattacks,anxiety,druga
    buseandADHD.Animportantfindingofthestudywasthatformanypeop
    le,mentaldisordersfirstappearedinchildhoodorinteenageyears.Thes
    tudyconcludedthatyoungpeopleneededmorehelpinthe"criticalparts
    oftheirlives".Theyneedservicesthatfindandtreattheirmentalhealthp
    roblems.

    Free writing

    Write about mental health disorders for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    Everybody should talk about their mental health. Discuss.

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    Homework

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
    2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. MENTAL HEALTH: Make a poster about mental health. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. COUNSELLOR: Write a magazine article about all children having a mental health counsellor. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.
    Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).
    5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
    6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on mental health. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how we can protect our mental health. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

    $US 9.99

    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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