The Reading / Listening - Depression - Level 6

Rates of depression among college students have surged in the past decade. A new study from Boston University reports that the number of students experiencing anxiety or depression more than doubled between 2013 and 2021. They found that the number of students suffering from anxiety jumped by 110 per cent. The number of students with depression skyrocketed by 135 per cent over the eight-year period of the study. In 2021, over 60 per cent of students met the criteria for having some form of mental illness. This is double the rate from eight years ago. Alarm bells are now ringing among mental health therapists. However, the number of students seeking therapy has fallen by 18 per cent.

Rates of depression among students had been on an upward trend even before 2013. Researcher Dr Sarah Lipson said: "College is a key developmental time. The age of onset for lifetime mental health problems also directly coincides with traditional college years." She said: "Living in a new setting, and away from home, can often create overwhelming and stressful circumstances." She added that 75 per cent of lifetime mental health problems will be present in people by the age of 24. Dr Lipson cited the COVID-19 pandemic, the loneliness of lockdowns, and school closures as factors that exacerbated this mental health crisis. Many students fear for their future, which they see as being increasingly full of uncertainty.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Depression - Level 4  or  Depression - Level 5

Sources
  • https://nypost.com/2022/08/18/majority-of-college-students-have-a-mental-illness-study/
  • https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-11117777/Rates-depression-college-students-jumped-135-2013-2021.html
  • https://www.foxnews.com/us/majority-college-students-suffering-from-mental-illness-anxiety-depression-rise-study


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. DEPRESSION: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about depression. 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?
       depression / decade / anxiety / skyrocketed / criteria / mental illness / alarm bells /
       trend / college / traditional / stressful / pandemic / lockdowns / loneliness / crisis
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. LESSONS: Students A strongly believe children from elementary school level upwards should get lessons on how to deal with mental health issues; Students B strongly believe otherwise. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. STUDENT LIFE: What was difficult for you being a student? How did you deal with these difficulties? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Your Difficulties

Your Solutions

Studying

 

 

Money

 

 

Friends

 

 

Exams

 

 

Teachers

 

 

School life

 

 
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. ANXIETY: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "anxiety". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. WORRIES: Rank these with your partner. Put the biggest worries at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Money
  • Health
  • Family
  • The future
  • Global warming
  • Crime
  • Old age
  • Social media

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. surged a. A particular way in which a thing exists or appears.
      2. anxiety b. The state of undergoing pain, distress, or hardship.
      3. suffering c. A feeling of worry or nervousness about something with an uncertain outcome.
      4. criteria d. Attempting to find something.
      5. form e. Suddenly increased a lot.
      6. therapist f. The principles or standards by which something may be judged or decided.
      7. seeking g. A person who treats psychological and mental health problems.

    Paragraph 2

      8. trend h. Of great importance.
      9. key i. Very great in amount.
      10. onset j. A time of intense difficulty or danger.
      11. coincide k. The beginning of something, especially something unpleasant.
      12. overwhelming l. Make a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling worse.
      13. exacerbated m. Happen at the same time.
      14. crisis n. A general direction in which something is developing or changing.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. Students at Boston University were the most depressed in the USA.     T / F
  2. The number of students with anxiety increased by 110% in eight years.   T / F
  3. Over 60% of college students have some form of mental health problem. T / F
  4. Only 18% of college students have not seen a therapist.     T / F
  5. Rates of depression had been going down until 2013.     T / F
  6. A doctor said living away from home can reduce stress.     T / F
  7. Most people with mental health problems will have them before 24.     T / F
  8. Many students are worrying about an uncertain future.     T / F

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

  1. rates
  2. jumped
  3. criteria
  4. therapists
  5. seeking
  6. key
  7. onset
  8. coincides
  9. exacerbated
  10. uncertainty
  1. indicators
  2. happens together
  3. searching for
  4. start
  5. leapt up
  6. riskiness
  7. percentages
  8. worsened
  9. crucial
  10. psychologists

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

  1. Rates of depression among college students
  2. the number of students experiencing anxiety
  3. students met the
  4. This is double the
  5. the number of students seeking
  6. Rates of depression among students had been
  7. Living in a new
  8. the loneliness
  9. factors that exacerbated this
  10. being increasingly full
  1. on an upward trend
  2. of lockdowns
  3. therapy has fallen
  4. mental health crisis
  5. rate from eight years ago
  6. of uncertainty
  7. have surged
  8. setting
  9. or depression
  10. criteria

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
anxiety
criteria
therapy
experiencing
ringing
period
surged
double

Rates of depression among college students have (1) _____________________ in the past decade. A new study from Boston University reports that the number of students (2) _____________________ anxiety or depression more than doubled between 2013 and 2021. They found that the number of students suffering from (3) _____________________ jumped by 110 per cent. The number of students with depression skyrocketed by 135 per cent over the eight-year (4) _____________________ of the study. In 2021, over 60 per cent of students met the (5) _____________________ for having some form of mental illness. This is (6) _____________________ the rate from eight years ago. Alarm bells are now (7) _____________________ among mental health therapists. However, the number of students seeking (8) _____________________ has fallen by 18 per cent.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
setting
key
cited
upward
full
stressful
coincides
exacerbated

Rates of depression among students had been on an (9) _____________________ trend even before 2013. Researcher Dr Sarah Lipson said: "College is a (10) _____________________ developmental time. The age of onset for lifetime mental health problems also directly (11) _____________________ with traditional college years." She said: "Living in a new (12) _____________________, and away from home, can often create overwhelming and (13) _____________________ circumstances." She added that 75 per cent of lifetime mental health problems will be present in people by the age of 24. Dr Lipson (14) _____________________ the COVID-19 pandemic, the loneliness of lockdowns, and school closures as factors that (15) _____________________ this mental health crisis. Many students fear for their future, which they see as being increasingly (16) _____________________ of uncertainty.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  Rates of depression among college ______
     a.  students have surged
     b.  students have purged
     c.  students have assuaged
     d.  students have searched
2)  The number of students ______
     a.  with depressing skyrocketed
     b.  with depress shun skyrocketed
     c.  with depression sky rocket it
     d.  with depression skyrocketed
3)  In 2021, over 60 per cent of students ______
     a.  met the criteria
     b.  let the criteria
     c.  wet the criteria
     d.  bet the criteria
4)  Alarm bells are now ringing among ______
     a.  mental healthy therapists
     b.  mental health therapists
     c.  mentally health therapists
     d.  mentally healthy therapists
5)  However, the number of students seeking ______
     a.  therapy has fall in
     b.  therapy has fallen
     c.  therapy has felled
     d.  therapy has fouling

6)  Rates of depression among students had been on ______
     a.  an upward blend
     b.  an upward rend
     c.  an upward trend
     d.  an upward friend
7)  The age of onset for lifetime mental health problems ______
     a.  also directly coincidences
     b.  also directly coin sides
     c.  also directly cow insides
     d.  also directly co win sides
8)  away from home, can often create overwhelming ______
     a.  and stressfully circumstances
     b.  and stressfully circumstance
     c.  and stressful circumstance
     d.  and stressful circumstances
9)  the loneliness of lockdowns, and school closures as factors ______
     a.  that exacerbated this
     b.  that exactly bated this
     c.  that eggs as a bated this
     d.  that eggs ax abated this
10)  fear for their future, which they see as being increasingly ______
     a.  fill of uncertainty
     b.  feel of uncertainty
     c.  full of uncertainty
     d.  fuel of uncertainty

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Rates of depression among college students (1) ____________________ the past decade. A new study from Boston University reports that the number of students experiencing anxiety or depression (2) ____________________ between 2013 and 2021. They found that the number of students suffering from anxiety jumped by 110 per cent. The number of students with (3) ____________________ 135 per cent over the eight-year period of the study. In 2021, over 60 per cent of students (4) ____________________ for having some form of mental illness. This is double the rate from eight years ago. Alarm bells are now ringing among (5) ____________________. However, the number of students (6) ____________________ fallen by 18 per cent.

Rates of depression among students had been on an (7) ____________________ before 2013. Researcher Dr Sarah Lipson said: "College is a key developmental time. The (8) ____________________ for lifetime mental health problems also directly coincides with traditional college years." She said: "Living in (9) ____________________, and away from home, can often create overwhelming and stressful circumstances." She added that 75 per cent (10) ____________________ health problems will be present in people by the age of 24. Dr Lipson cited the COVID-19 pandemic, the loneliness of lockdowns, and school (11) ____________________ that exacerbated this mental health crisis. Many students fear for their future, which they see as being increasingly (12) ____________________.

Comprehension questions

  1. Which university conducted this study?
  2. By how much did the number of students with anxiety increase?
  3. Over what timespan did the study take place?
  4. What does the article say is ringing with therapists?
  5. What was the drop in the number of students seeking therapy?
  6. Where had rates of depression been going before 2013?
  7. What did a doctor say was a key developmental time?
  8. What did the doctor say could be overwhelmingly stressful?
  9. By what age might 75% of lifetime mental health problems be in people?
  10. What do many students view their future as being?

Multiple choice quiz

1)  Which university conducted this study?
a) Bolton
b) Boston
c) Botswana
d) Berlin
2)  By how much did the number of students with anxiety increase?
a) 18%
b) 60%
c) 135%
d) 110%
3) Over what timespan did the study take place?
a) 8 years
b) 10 years
c) 2 years
d) 5 years
4) What does the article say is ringing with therapists?
a) smartphones
b) old telephones
c) alarm bells
d) smoke alarms
5) What was the drop in the number of students seeking therapy?
a) 15%
b) 18%
c) 16%
d) 17%

6) Where had rates of depression been going before 2013?
a) upwards
b) downwards
c) nowhere
d) everywhere
7) What did a doctor say was a key developmental time?
a) in the womb
b) elementary school
c) college
d) high school
8) What did the doctor say could be overwhelmingly stressful?
a) living in a new setting
b) researchers
c) homework
d) depression
9) By what age might 75% of lifetime mental health problems be in people?
a) 24
b) 23
c) 22
d) 21

10) What do many students view their future as being?
a) long
b) rosy
c) full of promise
d) uncertain

Role play

Role  A – Money
You think money is the biggest worry. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their worries aren't as big. Also, tell the others which is the least worrying of these (and why): health, crime or global warming.

Role  B – Health
You think health is the biggest worry. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their worries aren't as big. Also, tell the others which is the least worrying of these (and why): money, crime or global warming.

Role  C – Crime
You think crime is the biggest worry. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their worries aren't as big. Also, tell the others which is the least worrying of these (and why): health, money or global warming.

Role  D – Global Warming
You think global warming is the biggest worry. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their worries aren't as big. Also, tell the others which is the least worrying of these (and why): health, crime or money.

After reading / listening

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

'depression'

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

    • and 'anxiety'.

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

    • • 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:

    • surged
    • doubled
    • jumped
    • skyrocketed
    • criteria
    • bells
    • trend
    • key
    • home
    • 24
    • factors
    • future

    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 - Depression

    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 'depression'?
    3. What do you know about depression?
    4. Why might students be depressed?
    5. How can we help people with depression?
    6. Why is so little understood about depression?
    7. How well does your country help people with mental health issues?
    8. What's the difference between depression and anxiety?
    9. Have you ever had anxiety or depression?
    10. Would you seek help if you were depressed?

    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 'student'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. How stressful is going to college?
    5. How difficult is it to move away from home?
    6. How stressful is the COVID-19 pandemic?
    7. How does loneliness affect mental health?
    8. What are your biggest worries?
    9. How certain or uncertain is your future?
    10. What questions would you like to ask a mental health therapist?

    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)

    Rates of depression (1) ____ college students have surged in the past decade. A new study from Boston University reports that the number of students (2) ____ anxiety or depression more than doubled between 2013 and 2021. They found that the number of students suffering from anxiety jumped (3) ____ 110 per cent. The number of students with depression (4) ____ by 135 per cent over the eight-year period of the study. In 2021, over 60 per cent of students (5) ____ the criteria for having some form of mental illness. This is double the rate from eight years ago. Alarm bells are now ringing among mental health therapists. However, the number of students (6) ____ therapy has fallen by 18 per cent.

    Rates of depression among students had been on an upward (7) ____ even before 2013. Researcher Dr Sarah Lipson said: "College is a key developmental time. The age of (8) ____ for lifetime mental health problems also directly coincides with traditional college years." She said: "Living in a new (9) ____, and away from home, can often create (10) ____ and stressful circumstances." She added that 75 per cent of lifetime mental health problems will be present in people by the age of 24. Dr Lipson (11) ____ the COVID-19 pandemic, the loneliness of lockdowns, and school closures as factors that exacerbated this mental health crisis. Many students fear for their future, which they see as (12) ____ increasingly full of uncertainty.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    (a)     among     (b)     becoming     (c)     availing     (d)     with    
    (a)     experiences     (b)     experienced     (c)     experiencing     (d)     experience    
    (a)     at     (b)     on     (c)     by     (d)     from    
    (a)     launched     (b)     orbited     (c)     planed     (d)     skyrocketed    
    (a)     met     (b)     set     (c)     bet     (d)     let    
    (a)     peeking     (b)     seeking     (c)     reeking     (d)     eking    
    (a)     fender     (b)     render     (c)     frond     (d)     trend    
    (a)     upset     (b)     onset     (c)     inset     (d)     outset    
    (a)     settee     (b)     settle     (c)     setting     (d)     setter    
    (a)     incoming     (b)     wellbeing     (c)     heartwarming     (d)     overwhelming    
    (a)     sated     (b)     sited     (c)     sighted     (d)     cited    
    (a)     bee     (b)     being     (c)     be     (d)     been

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. ugrdse in the past decade
    2. the number of students experiencing xyeatni
    3. more than dledubo between 2013 and 2021
    4. ktrdcokesye by 135 per cent
    5. over 60 per cent of students met the rirtaice
    6. the number of students seeking yaprteh

    Paragraph 2

    1. gvrmnlohweie and stressful circumstances
    2. directly nciecsido with traditional college years
    3. Dr Lipson cetdi the COVID-19 pandemic
    4. the slensoniel of lockdowns
    5. school esclrosu
    6. drbteexeaac this mental health crisis

    Put the text back together

    (  1  ) Rates of depression among college students have surged in the past decade. A new study
    (...)  said: "College is a key developmental time. The age of onset for lifetime mental health problems also directly coincides
    (...)  period of the study. In 2021, over 60 per cent of students met the criteria for having some
    (...)  of lockdowns, and school closures as factors that exacerbated this mental health crisis. Many students fear
    (...)  now ringing among mental health therapists. However, the number of students seeking therapy has fallen by 18 per cent.
    (...)  depression more than doubled between 2013 and 2021. They found that the number of students suffering from anxiety jumped
    (...)  and stressful circumstances." She added that 75 per cent of lifetime mental health problems will be
    (...)  by 110 per cent. The number of students with depression skyrocketed by 135 per cent over the eight-year
    (...)  for their future, which they see as being increasingly full of uncertainty.
    (...)  from Boston University reports that the number of students experiencing anxiety or
    (...)  Rates of depression among students had been on an upward trend even before 2013. Researcher Dr Sarah Lipson
    (...)  present in people by the age of 24. Dr Lipson cited the COVID-19 pandemic, the loneliness
    (...)  with traditional college years." She said: "Living in a new setting, and away from home, can often create overwhelming
    (...)  form of mental illness. This is double the rate from eight years ago. Alarm bells are

    Put the words in the right order

    1. students college surged. of depression have among Rates
    2. some of having form illness. Criteria for mental
    3. the eight This double years is from ago. rate
    4. therapists. bells are ringing mental Alarm health among
    5. therapy has of students seeking fallen. number The
    6. is students upward Depression an among on trend.
    7. age health mental for of onset The problems.
    8. often can and create overwhelming It stressful circumstances.
    9. school closures and as She cited COVID-19 factors.
    10. this that exacerbated crisis. mental have health Factors

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Rates of depression with / among college students have purged / surged in the past decade. A new study from Boston University reports that the number of students experiencing anxiety / anxious or depression more than doubled between 2013 and 2021. They found that the number of students suffer / suffering from anxiety jumped by 110 per cent. The number of students with depression / depressed skyrocketed by 135 per cent over the eight-year periodical / period of the study. In 2021, over 60 per cent of students met / bet the criteria for having some form / frame of mental illness. This is double the rate from eight years ago. Alarm bells are now banging / ringing among mental health therapists. However, the number of students seeking / peeking therapy has fallen by 18 per cent.

    Rates of depression among students had been on an upward trendy / trend even before 2013. Researcher Dr Sarah Lipson said: "College is a lock / key developmental time. The age of inset / onset for lifetime mental health problems also directly coincidence / coincides with traditional college years." She said: "Living in / on a new setting, and away from home, can often create overwhelming and stressful circumstantial / circumstances." She added that 75 per cent of lifetime mental health problems will be / been present in people until / by the age of 24. Dr Lipson cited the COVID-19 pandemic, the loneliness of lockdowns, and school closures has / as factors that exacerbated this mental health crisis. Many students fear for their future, which they see has / as being increasingly full of uncertainty.

    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)

    R_t_s  _f  d_pr_ss__n  _m_ng  c_ll_g_  st_d_nts  h_v_  s_rg_d  _n  th_  p_st  d_c_d_.  _  n_w  st_dy  fr_m  B_st_n  _n_v_rs_ty  r_p_rts  th_t  th_  n_mb_r  _f  st_d_nts  _xp_r__nc_ng  _nx__ty  _r  d_pr_ss__n  m_r_  th_n  d__bl_d  b_tw__n  2013  _nd  2021.  Th_y  f__nd  th_t  th_  n_mb_r  _f  st_d_nts  s_ff_r_ng  fr_m  _nx__ty  j_mp_d  by  110  p_r  c_nt.  Th_  n_mb_r  _f  st_d_nts  w_th  d_pr_ss__n  skyr_ck_t_d  by  135  p_r  c_nt  _v_r  th_  __ght-y__r  p_r__d  _f  th_  st_dy.  _n  2021,  _v_r  60  p_r  c_nt  _f  st_d_nts  m_t  th_  cr_t_r__  f_r  h_v_ng  s_m_  f_rm  _f  m_nt_l  _lln_ss.  Th_s  _s  d__bl_  th_  r_t_  fr_m  __ght  y__rs  _g_.  _l_rm  b_lls  _r_  n_w  r_ng_ng  _m_ng  m_nt_l  h__lth  th_r_p_sts.  H_w_v_r,  th_  n_mb_r  _f  st_d_nts  s__k_ng  th_r_py  h_s  f_ll_n  by  18  p_r  c_nt.

    R_t_s  _f  d_pr_ss__n  _m_ng  st_d_nts  h_d  b__n  _n  _n  _pw_rd  tr_nd  _v_n  b_f_r_  2013.  R_s__rch_r  Dr  S_r_h  L_ps_n  s__d:  "C_ll_g_  _s  _  k_y  d_v_l_pm_nt_l  t_m_.  Th_  _g_  _f  _ns_t  f_r  l_f_t_m_  m_nt_l  h__lth  pr_bl_ms  _ls_  d_r_ctly  c__nc_d_s  w_th  tr_d_t__n_l  c_ll_g_  y__rs."  Sh_  s__d:  "L_v_ng  _n  _  n_w  s_tt_ng,  _nd  _w_y  fr_m  h_m_,  c_n  _ft_n  cr__t_  _v_rwh_lm_ng  _nd  str_ssf_l  c_rc_mst_nc_s."  Sh_  _dd_d  th_t  75  p_r  c_nt  _f  l_f_t_m_  m_nt_l  h__lth  pr_bl_ms  w_ll  b_  pr_s_nt  _n  p__pl_  by  th_  _g_  _f  24.  Dr  L_ps_n  c_t_d  th_  C_V_D-19  p_nd_m_c,  th_  l_n_l_n_ss  _f  l_ckd_wns,  _nd  sch__l  cl_s_r_s  _s  f_ct_rs  th_t  _x_c_rb_t_d  th_s  m_nt_l  h__lth  cr_s_s.  M_ny  st_d_nts  f__r  f_r  th__r  f_t_r_,  wh_ch  th_y  s__  _s  b__ng  _ncr__s_ngly  f_ll  _f  _nc_rt__nty.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    rates of depression among college students have surged in the past decade a new study from boston university reports that the number of students experiencing anxiety or depression more than doubled between 2013 and 2021 they found that the number of students suffering from anxiety jumped by 110 per cent the number of students with depression skyrocketed by 135 per cent over the eightyear period of the study in 2021 over 60 per cent of students met the criteria for having some form of mental illness this is double the rate from eight years ago alarm bells are now ringing among mental health therapists however the number of students seeking therapy has fallen by 18 per cent

    rates of depression among students had been on an upward trend even before 2013 researcher dr sarah lipson said college is a key developmental time the age of onset for lifetime mental health problems also directly coincides with traditional college years she said living in a new setting and away from home can often create overwhelming and stressful circumstances she added that 75 per cent of lifetime mental health problems will be present in people by the age of 24 dr lipson cited the covid19 pandemic the loneliness of lockdowns and school closures as factors that exacerbated this mental health crisis many students fear for their future which they see as being increasingly full of uncertainty.

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Ratesofdepressionamongcollegestudentshavesurgedinthepastdeca
    de.AnewstudyfromBostonUniversityreportsthatthenumberofstuden
    tsexperiencinganxietyordepressionmorethandoubledbetween2013
    and2021.Theyfoundthatthenumberofstudentssufferingfromanxiety
    jumpedby110percent.Thenumberofstudentswithdepressionskyroc
    ketedby135percentovertheeight-yearperiodofthestudy.In2021,ove
    r60percentofstudentsmetthecriteriaforhavingsomeformofmentalill
    ness.Thisisdoubletheratefromeightyearsago.Alarmbellsarenowring
    ingamongmentalhealththerapists.However,thenumberofstudentss
    eekingtherapyhasfallenby18percent.Ratesofdepressionamongstud
    entshadbeenonanupwardtrendevenbefore2013.ResearcherDrSara
    hLipsonsaid:"Collegeisakeydevelopmentaltime.Theageofonsetforlif
    etimementalhealthproblemsalsodirectlycoincideswithtraditionalcoll
    egeyears."Shesaid:"Livinginanewsetting,andawayfromhome,canof
    tencreateoverwhelmingandstressfulcircumstances."Sheaddedthat
    75percentoflifetimementalhealthproblemswillbepresentinpeopleby
    theageof24.DrLipsoncitedtheCOVID-19pandemic,thelonelinessoflo
    ckdowns,andschoolclosuresasfactorsthatexacerbatedthismentalhe
    althcrisis.Manystudentsfearfortheirfuture,whichtheyseeasbeingincr
    easinglyfullofuncertainty.

    Free writing

    Write about depression for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    All students should have lessons on how to deal with metal health issues. 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. DEPRESSION: Make a poster about depression. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. MENTAL HEALTH LESSONS: Write a magazine article about students having regular lessons from elementary school onwards on how to deal with mental health issues. 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 depression. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to combat depression. 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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