Real Article: The Hidden Struggle
You see them every day: a classmate, a friend, maybe even yourself — smiling on the outside but silently overwhelmed.
Across the globe, mental health issues are increasing, especially among young people. Stress, anxiety, and depression are now leading causes of lost productivity and long-term health problems. Social media, academic pressure, and uncertain futures all play a role.
But in many cultures, mental illness is still stigmatised. People are afraid to talk. Afraid to admit they’re not okay.
Next time you ask someone, “How are you?” — listen closely. You might hear more than words.
Vocabulary Deep Dive
| Word | Synonym | Nuance |
|---|---|---|
| Mental illness | Psychological disorder | Formal and clinical term |
| Stigma | Social shame | “Stigma” implies public judgement and silence |
| Therapy | Treatment | “Therapy” suggests ongoing emotional work, not just medicine |
| Resilience | Inner strength | “Resilience” focuses on recovery and adaptation under pressure |
There — now you can discuss mental health in academic, respectful, and fluent terms.
Article 2: Building a Resilient Mind
In South Korea, university students report some of the highest levels of mental illness in the world — but few seek therapy. Why? The stigma around needing help is still strong.
Mental health experts say that talking openly is key. Support from peers, universities, and public health systems can reduce the pressure students feel. More importantly, building resilience — the ability to recover from setbacks — should be part of every student’s education.
Real solutions don’t come from pills alone. They come from conversation, awareness, and changing the culture around mental wellbeing.
IELTS Reading Test
- What are two causes of mental health issues mentioned in Article 1?
- Complete the sentence:
“Real solutions don’t come from pills alone. They come from ______, awareness, and changing the culture.” - True / False / Not Given:
Mental health problems are more common in developing countries. - Multiple Choice:
What does the word “resilience” suggest?
A. Taking medication
B. Recovering from setbacks
C. Avoiding problems
D. Being strong physically - Matching Headings (Article 2):
- A. Changing Social Norms
- B. Mental Health in Education
- C. Causes of University Stress
- D. Why Pills Are Not Enough
- E. Silence and Shame
Suggested Answer
- Academic pressure and social media 2. conversation 3. Not Given 4. B. Recovering from setbacks 5.E, A, B, D
IELTS Speaking Challenge
Focus Vocabulary: mental illness | therapy | stigma | resilience
Warm-Up Questions:
- Do people in your country talk openly about mental health?
- Is therapy considered normal or taboo?
- How can schools build resilience in students?
Band 6 Style:
“Some people are depressed. It’s bad. They should talk to someone. It’s hard.”
Band 7 Style:
“Mental illness is still heavily stigmatised in many countries. I believe therapy and building resilience should be normalised in education systems.”
Try This Frame:
“In my opinion, ______ is a serious issue. Reducing ______ and promoting ______ would help improve mental wellbeing across society.”
There — you can now speak about mental health like a confident, academic IELTS candidate.
IELTS Writing Challenge
Task 2 Prompt:
Some people believe mental health education should be part of the school curriculum. Others think this is the family’s responsibility.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Band 7 Sample:
“While families play a key role in developing emotional resilience, schools must also take responsibility for teaching students how to manage stress. Without proper education, stigma around mental illness will continue, and young people may never seek therapy.”
Structure:
- Intro — both perspectives
- Para 1 — families and emotional support
- Para 2 — schools and curriculum change
- Conclusion — both necessary
Use These Words: stigma, mental illness, therapy, resilience
Grammar Focus: Modal Verbs for Obligation and Advice
Structure:
• should / must / need to / ought to
• Used for expressing strong recommendations or responsibilities
Examples:
• “Schools should teach students how to deal with stress.”
• “Young people must feel safe talking about mental illness.”
Practice:
- Rewrite: Students are stressed. Schools can help.
→ Schools should offer support to help students manage stress. - Try your own with:
- therapy
- stigma
- family support
Modal verbs let you sound persuasive and informed — key for IELTS writing and speaking.
Rewrite Challenge
Question:
Should schools teach mental health?
Sentence Plan:
- Mental illness is a growing issue among young people.
- Schools must help reduce stigma and provide emotional support.
- Therapy and resilience training should be part of the curriculum.
- This approach prepares students for real-life challenges.
Include Vocabulary: stigma, therapy, resilience, mental illness
Done — you’ve written a full, structured paragraph with precision and insight.
Final Reflection
✔️ You’ve just:
• Understood the complexity of mental health in modern life
• Learned vocabulary with powerful nuance
• Practised IELTS-style reading, speaking, and writing
• Mastered modal verbs for strong opinion
• Built your voice for academic and real-world use
To learn how to use hedging and academic caution — essential for writing about sensitive topics in IELTS, university, and international reports — join the full course now.
This topic connects to another essential IELTS lesson—check it out here: