ENGLISH FOR NURSING

MENTAL HEALTH

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Once you have completed the module, you’ll be able to:

 Read aloud the reading text,

 Identify the answer of reading comprehension questions,
 Find and define the specific terms, and
 Modify simple present sentences into affirmative, negative, and interrogative sentence.

VOCABULARIES AND PRONOUNCIATION

Direction. Practice the following pronunciation. Repeat each word for three times.

1. Suffer /ˈsəfər/ (v) : menderita

2. Consider /kənˈsidər/ (v) : mempertimbangkan
3. Affect /əˈfekt/ (v) : mempengaruhi
4. Available /əˈvāləb(ə)l/ (adj) : tersedia
5. Successful /səkˈsesfəl/ (adj) : sukses
6. Major /ˈmājər/ (adj) : besar, utama
7. Incurable /inˈkyo͝ orəb(ə)l/ (adj) : tidak tersembuhkan

READING ALOUD
Direction. Read aloud the dialogue below.

Mental Health
One of the greatest challenges faced by mental health workers, in recent years,
has been breaking down the stigma attached to mental illness. A stigma which
didn't only affect the general public, but also patients and other healthcare
professionals.

A patient's reluctance to admit to suffering from a mental illness, a mere 50

years ago, is hardly surprising when you consider the treatments that were
available at that time such as electroconvulsive therapy in which the patient
was strapped down and electrocuted - very much akin to a less deadly version of
the electric chair. Going back slightly further to the 1940's and 50's, and the
treatments got even more barbaric, the frontal lobotomy involved destroying

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the part of the brain which was thought to be responsible for the illness in
question. These were commonly performed on patients suffering
from schizophrenia, and while the delusions were often cured, the patient
was left without full brain function. The lucky ones were just sent to
an asylum to live, like a prisoner, out of sight and out of mind.

Fortunately, within the last 50 years, mental health has undergone major
changes and now offers a variety of therapies for those suffering from a
condition. Most large hospitals will have an in-staff psychiatrist to treat
patients or to refer them to a psychologist who by therapy will help the patient
realize the cause of their problem. However, one does not need to go to hospital
to consult a mental health professional. If someone suffers from a minor mental
health problem, such as panic attacks or a particular phobia, they are just as
likely to find the help they need on the high-street.

Both the psychiatrist and psychologist are well versed in psychotherapy, but
only the psychiatrist can prescribe medicine such as mood
stabilizers or psychoactive drugs if needed. In recent years, creative
therapies like music, color or dance therapy have also proved successful for
certain conditions. Art therapy, for example, has proved effective in the
treatment of patients with dementia.

On the face of the matter, it appears that the nations mental health should be
better than ever but as times change so do the conditions which appear. Post-
traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was unheard of 30 years ago, but now
poses a major problem for soldiers returning from war or witnesses to major
accidents. This does not necessarily mean that this is a new disorder, but rather
that a name can be given to a condition which has been around for hundreds of
years.

Another example of an old complaint recently being given a name is obsessive

compulsive disorder (OCD) in which sufferers have a compulsion to carry
out certain actions, which for some may seem strange like repeatedly turning on
and off a light switch a given number of times before leaving the house. Some
disorders are not so old though, eating disorders such as anorexia are
relatively new.

Mental health issues are often a result of the environment in which we live.
Taking anxiety into consideration, it has been noted that the number of
sufferers has increased dramatically as our lifestyle gives us more to worry
about.

The challenge faced by mental health workers in the coming years, is to continue
the good work already started and expand on it, particularly with regard
to autism which currently affects around 1 in 88 children, yet remains
incurable. (Source: https://www.medicalenglish.com/module/core/unit/9/reading)

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 READING COMPREHENSION

Direction. Decide whether the statement is true or false based on the text above.

1. Only a psychologist is allowed to prescribe medicine, such as mood

stabilizers or psychoactive drugs.

True
False

2. PTSD or schizophrenia was treated with electroconvulsive therapy or frontal

lobotomy in the 40s and 50s.

True
False

3. Panic attacks, anxiety or any other form of phobia can usually be treated with
psychotherapy.

True
False

4. Art therapy has proved effective in the treatment of patients with dementia.

True
False

5. Life-style was seen as the factor of dramatical increase of mental health

sufferers.

True
False

VOCABULARY
Direction. Find seven specific terms on the text above. Find and write the definition.
Number 1 to 3 are for your examples.

1. Schizophrenia: a chronic and severe mental disorder that characterized by

distortions in thinking, perception, emotions, language, sense of self and behaviour

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2. Psychiatrist: a medical doctor who specializes in mental health

3. Psychologist: a professional who studies mind and behaviour

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