Mental Health: How is your mental health?

Question

After spending numerous hours on the internet and Amazon.com, I have been unable to find a good website or book that has comprehensive information in relation to correctly translating mental health terms/words/terminology from English to Spanish. A few medical books, pamphlets and websites have some basic translations, but that is it. I would greatly appreciate any help in this area. It would help me to feel a lot better. Overall, I'm usually in a good mood.

¿A propósito, cómo se siente usted? (By the way, how are you feeling')

Answer 1

Warren, you are absolutely right! I think that at least here in USA we may lack these resources. I think that most likely we can find them outside from USA. I am going to check with my colleagues in the Caribbean, Mexico and Argentina to see if they have something like what you are looking for.

Answer 2

Get in touch with Argentinos. They are obsessed with this subject, It's a national preoccupation.
They'll discuss this forever;---|)

Answer 3

Thank you, Evelio. This is exactly the direction I want to go, but for mental health.

Answer 4

of course I won't

Answer 5

pasa_bolita,

I think I'll do that, but please do not post the questions and dialogue on the internet.

Answer 6

if you want you can send me messages or post comments in my Spanish Dict page and we will translate them.

Answer 7

Anacaona,

Thank you very much for your help. You're absolutely right about the stigma attached to seeking mental health for many Spanish-speaking people. Oakland is one of the most integrated cities in the USA according to the US census, and this stigma is also applicable vis-à-vis Asians, African Americans and other racial and ethnic groups.

I've been an APA member since '91 and they do have information in Spanish, just like other mental health sites have information in Spanish. What I'm looking for, however, is a comprehensive English-Spanish guide, pamphlet, book and/or website specifically to help mental health workers. I already know most of the major diagnosis, emotions and feelings in Spanish, but what I'm looking for is a resource that has comprehensive vocabulary and dialogue in relation to the proper usage, both formally and informally.

pasa_bolita,

I thought seriously about posting the terms and questions as you suggested. I even wrote out two pages worth of questions and responses, but when I started asking about suicide and hallucinations, I realized that I cannot ask those questions here because I do not want to stir up emotions and feelings in people who would read the questions and responses. Therefore, ethically and legally, I'm just looking for good resources. I'm not looking to get specific words and terminology here. Thank you for your help in helping me to think this through.

Answer 8

Try the APA website, they just started a new section with information in Spanish. I will check some other sites, and books.

My concern with the question is that for many Spanish-speaking people it can seem invasive and let's not even discuss the stigma still attached to it. Being a Spanish-native mental health provided myself, I find that the phrases I shared with you are more culturally sensitive and people tend to respond positively to them.

Answer 9

why don't you post them here and we help you find those terms'

Answer 10

Thanks for all your help so far pasa_bolita and Anacaona. Anacaona you are right, most words cannot be translated literally, which is why I'm looking for comprehensive information in relation to the correct ways to communicate with others in Spanish about mental health and related feelings. I have quite a few books that are specifically for Spanish for health care professionals, i.e., for medical doctors, nurses, etc., but they are not thorough. Hence, I'm looking for good websites, books, pamphlets, etc. that can provide me with comprehensive information vis-a-vis words related to mental health--feelings.

Answer 11

¿cómo esta su salud mental?

I do not know what you're trying to say but this might help you.

Answer 12

As you know some phrases cannot be translated literary... mental healh is a very sticky area in this respect.
I will probably say something like;

Como esta su bienestar emocional?

Como se encuentra su estado emocional'