Health & Wellness
"The Hidden Mental Health Crisis in Emergency Rooms"
Adapted from health journalism
Emergency rooms across the country are seeing a surge in patients seeking help for mental
health crises. Dr. Sarah Chen, who has worked at City General Hospital for eight years,
explains: "We're treating more anxiety and panic attacks than ever before. Young adults
especially are struggling with sleep disorders and stress-related symptoms."
The situation has changed dramatically since the pandemic. "I've noticed that patients are
more open about discussing their mental health," says nurse practitioner Maria Rodriguez.
"They're asking questions like: 'Could this chest pain be from anxiety?' or 'How long should I
expect to feel this way?'"
Hospital staff have adapted their approach. "We've learned to listen more carefully when
someone says they've been having trouble sleeping or concentrating," Dr. Chen adds. "These
might seem like minor complaints, but they often indicate deeper issues."
The emergency department now works closely with mental health professionals. "If someone
comes in with recurring headaches, we don't just treat the pain," explains Rodriguez. "We
explore whether stress, lack of sleep, or other lifestyle factors might be contributing."
Health Chunks
Essential Health Chunks
Describing Symptoms:
"I've been having trouble with..."
"I've been experiencing..."
"This has been going on for..."
"It started about [time] ago"
"The pain is getting worse/better"
Asking for Help:
"Could this be related to...?"
"Should I be concerned about...?"
"How long should I expect...?"
"Is it normal to feel...?"
"What would you recommend for...?"
Medical Professional Responses:
"Let's take a look at..."
"Have you noticed if...?"
"This might be related to..."
"I'd like to run some tests to..."
"You should start feeling better in..."
Activities
Activity 1: Symptom Description Practice
Complete these health chunks with your own examples:
1. "I've been having trouble with _________________ for about _________________."
2. "The _________________ started _________________ and it's getting _________________."
3. "Should I be concerned about _________________ that I've been experiencing?"
4. "How long should I expect _________________ to last?"
5. "Could this _________________ be related to _________________?"
Activity 2: Doctor-Patient Dialog Building
Use the chunks to create natural conversations:
Scenario A: Stress-Related Symptoms
Patient describes sleep problems and headaches
Doctor asks about lifestyle and stress levels
Discussion about treatment options
Your Dialog: Patient: "" Doctor: "" Patient: "" Doctor: ""
Scenario B: Follow-up Appointment
Patient reports improvement/continued problems
Doctor adjusts treatment plan
Discussion about prevention
Your Dialog: Patient: "" Doctor: "" Patient: "" Doctor: ""
"Why Your Smartphone Might Be Ruining Your Sleep"
Health & Technology Report
Sleep specialists are seeing an alarming trend: more people are reporting difficulty falling
asleep and staying asleep through the night. Dr. James Park, a sleep medicine specialist, has
been studying this phenomenon for the past five years.
"Patients often tell me: 'I've been lying awake for hours, just thinking,'" Dr. Park explains.
"When I ask about their evening routine, most admit to checking their phones right before
bed."
The blue light from screens can interfere with melatonin production, the hormone that helps
us sleep. "I've been recommending that patients put their devices away at least one hour
before bedtime," says Dr. Park. "Those who follow this advice report falling asleep faster and
feeling more rested."
Sleep hygiene has become a major focus in preventive medicine. "We're teaching patients
simple habits," explains sleep therapist Lisa Wong. "Things like keeping the bedroom cool,
avoiding caffeine after 2 PM, and establishing a consistent bedtime routine."
The results have been encouraging. "Patients who make these changes often see
improvement within two weeks," Dr. Park notes. "They're sleeping better, feeling more
energetic during the day, and reporting less anxiety overall."
Present Perfect for Health Experiences
Pattern Recognition
Notice these patterns from the readings:
✅ Present Perfect for Recent/Ongoing Health Issues:
"I've been having trouble with..."
"We've been treating more anxiety..."
"Patients have adapted..."
"This has been going on for..."
✅ Present Perfect vs. Simple Past:
"I've worked here for eight years" (still working)
"I worked there last year" (finished)
"I've been feeling tired lately" (ongoing)
"I felt sick yesterday" (specific time)
Practice: Health Timeline
Choose the correct form:
1. Dr. Chen (has worked / worked) at the hospital since 2015.
2. She (has treated / treated) three patients with anxiety yesterday.
3. The patient (has been experiencing / experienced) headaches for two weeks.
4. He (has felt / felt) better after taking the medication last night.
5. We (have seen / saw) more mental health cases this month than ever before.
At the Doctor's Office
Pre-Listening: Prediction
Before listening, predict what chunks you might hear in these situations:
Situation 1: Annual Check-up Expected chunks: ________________________________
Situation 2: Emergency Room Visit Expected chunks: ________________________________
Situation 3: Mental Health Consultation Expected chunks: ________________________________
Chunk Identification Exercise
Listen and identify these chunk patterns:
□ "I've been having..."
□ "How long has this been...?"
□ "You should start feeling..."
□ "Have you noticed...?"
□ "This might be related to..."
Real-World Application
Health Communication Scenarios
Practice using health chunks in these realistic situations:
Scenario 1: Calling a Doctor's Office You need to schedule an appointment for recurring
headaches
Useful chunks:
"I'd like to schedule an appointment..."
"I've been having trouble with..."
"This has been going on for..."
"When would be the earliest available...?"
Your phone conversation: "Hello, I'd like to
________________________________________________"
Scenario 2: Pharmacy Consultation You're picking up medication and have questions
about side effects
Useful chunks:
"I'm picking up a prescription for..."
"Should I be concerned about...?"
"How long should I expect...?"
"What would you recommend if...?"
Your conversation: "Hi, I'm here to ________________________________________________"
Scenario 3: Describing Symptoms to a Friend Your friend asks how you're feeling after
being sick
Useful chunks:
"I've been feeling much better..."
"The doctor said it might take..."
"I'm still having some trouble with..."
"Thanks for asking about..."
Your response: "Thanks for checking in. I've been
________________________________________________"
Health Vocabulary in Context
Essential Health Communication Words
Physical Symptoms:
headache, chest pain, shortness of breath
fatigue, dizziness, nausea
muscle tension, joint pain
Mental Health Terms:
anxiety, stress, panic attack
sleep disorder, concentration problems
mood changes, overwhelming feelings
Medical Professionals:
emergency room doctor, nurse practitioner
sleep specialist, mental health counselor
pharmacist, physical therapist
Treatment & Prevention:
medication, therapy, lifestyle changes
rest, exercise, stress management
follow-up appointment, second opinion
Vocabulary in Chunks
Instead of learning isolated words, practice these natural combinations:
❌ Don't memorize: "anxiety" + "attack" + "panic"
✅ Learn as chunks: "I had a panic attack" / "anxiet-related symptoms" / "panic disorder
treatment"
❌ Don't memorize: "prescription" + "medication" + "side effects"
✅ Learn as chunks: "prescription medication" / "potential side effects" / "over-the-counter
alternatives"
Self-Assessment
After completing this lesson, I can:
□ Describe health symptoms using natural English chunks
□ Ask appropriate questions about medical concerns
□ Understand basic medical advice and recommendations
□ Use present perfect tense for ongoing health situations
□ Distinguish between formal medical and casual health conversations
□ Communicate effectively in healthcare settings
