Join Luis and me as we go over essential mental health questions in Spanish to help you assess your patients with confidence! In this lesson, you’ll practice asking about emotions, sleep, energy levels, appetite, and even sensitive topics like self-harm. Master these key phrases to improve communication and provide better care for your Spanish-speaking patients.

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LEVEL – INTERMEDIATE

Now, let’s put this vocabulary into practice with patient questions.

¿Se siente triste?
Do you feel sad?

¿Se siente contento(a)?
Do you feel happy?

¿Se siente nervioso(a)?
Do you feel nervous?

¿Se siente inquieto(a)?
Do you feel restless?

¿Se siente deprimido(a)?
Do you feel depressed?

¿Se siente desesperanzado(a)?
Do you feel hopeless?

¿Se siente desamparado(a)?
Do you feel helpless?

¿Se siente culpable a menudo?
Do you often feel guilty?

¿Se preocupa continuamente?
Do you worry all the time?

¿Se preocupa por sus hijos?
Do you worry about your children?

¿Hay algo que le preocupa (preocupe*)?
Is there something that worries you?

Learn more about this use of the subjunctive to describe unspecified nouns.

These questions help assess the patient’s energy levels and sleep patterns.

¿Tiene más energía de lo normal?
Do you have more energy than normal?

¿Tiene menos energía de lo normal?
Do you have less energy than normal?

¿Tiene problemas para relajarse?
Do you have problems relaxing?

¿Tiene dificultad para concentrarse?
Do you have difficulty concentrating?

¿Cuánto tarda en quedarse dormido(a)?
How long does it take you to fall asleep?

¿Se despierta muchas veces por la noche?
Do you wake up many times in the night?

¿Cuántas horas duerme cada noche?
How many hours do you sleep each night?

These questions explore appetite and weight fluctuations.

¿Ha cambiado su apetito últimamente?
Has your appetite changed recently?

¿Está comiendo más de lo normal?
Are you eating more than normal?

¿Está comiendo menos de lo normal?
Are you eating less than normal?

¿Ha subido de peso en los últimos meses?
Have you gained weight in recent months?

¿Ha bajado de peso en los últimos meses?
Have you lost weight in recent months?

Assessing professional and social well-being can help understand the patient’s overall mental health.

¿Ha tenido problemas en la escuela?
Have you had problems in school?

¿Ha tenido problemas en el trabajo?
Have you had problems at work?

¿Ha tenido problemas en sus relaciones con otras personas?
Have you had problems in your relationships with other people?

¿Ha tenido problemas en su matrimonio?
Have you had problems in your marriage?

These questions help assess perceptual disturbances.

¿Ha escuchado voces que solamente usted puede escuchar?
Have you heard voices that only you can hear?

¿Ha oído voces que solamente usted puede oír?
Have you heard voices that only you can hear?

¿Alguna vez ha visto algo que solamente usted puede ver?
Have you ever seen something that only you can see?

These are crucial questions when assessing the risk of self-harm or harm to others.

¿Alguna vez ha pensado en lastimarse a sí mismo(a)?
Have you ever thought about harming yourself?

¿Alguna vez ha pensado en hacerse daño a sí mismo(a,e)?
Have you ever thought about harming yourself?

¿Alguna vez ha pensado en hacerse daño?
Have you ever thought about harming yourself? (Gender-neutral)

Learn more about gender-inclusive language in Spanish!

¿Ha pensado en hacerle daño a otra persona?
Have you thought about harming another person?

¿Tiene pensamientos suicidas?
Do you have suicidal thoughts?

¿Ha formado un plan para suicidarse?
Have you made a plan to die by suicide?

¿Ha creado un plan para suicidarse?
Have you made a plan to die by suicide?

¿Ha armado un plan para quitarse la vida?
Have you made a plan to take your life?

¿Ha creado un plan para lastimarse?
Have you made a plan to harm yourself?

¿Ha pensado en cómo lo haría?
Have you thought about how you would do it?

Thank you for practicing with us. ¡Hasta la próxima!