Mental Health Expressions
Må dåligt, gå i terapi, KBT — the Swedish language of feeling, and getting help.
Mental health, spoken plainly: hur mår du egentligen, the friend who asks twice, walks instead of words — att be om hjälp är styrka.
- 1
må dåligt
to feel bad (mentally)
Tip: lit. 'feel badly' — Swedish separates 'må' (wellbeing) from 'känna' (sense).
- 2
må bra
to feel good
Tip: lit. the same — the standard answer to 'hur mår du?'.
- 3
hur mår du egentligen?
how are you really?
Tip: lit. the same — the question that opens the real conversation.
- 4
gå i terapi
to be in therapy
Tip: lit. 'walk in therapy'.
- 5
KBT
cognitive behavioural therapy
Tip: lit. the same — the dominant model in Sweden.
- 6
prata med en psykolog
to talk to a psychologist
Tip: lit. the same.
- 7
en kurator
a counsellor
Tip: lit. the same — at the health centre or school.
- 8
en remiss
a referral
Tip: lit. the same.
- 9
kön är lång
the waiting list is long
Tip: lit. 'the queue is long' — the standard complaint.
- 10
internetbehandling
internet-based therapy
Tip: lit. the same — widely offered here.
- 11
ångest
anxiety
Tip: lit. the same — a very used word in Swedish.
- 12
oro
low-grade anxiety
Tip: lit. 'worry' — the lighter, everyday version.
- 13
en panikattack
a panic attack
Tip: lit. the same.
- 14
depression
depression
Tip: lit. the same.
- 15
en svacka
a low patch
Tip: lit. 'a dip' — the everyday word for a bad stretch.
- 16
äta medicin
to be on medication
Tip: lit. 'eat medicine'.
- 17
stigmat är mindre nu
the stigma is smaller now
Tip: lit. the same — genuinely true in Sweden.
- 18
öppna upp sig
to open up
Tip: lit. the same.
- 19
stänga inne det
to bottle it up
Tip: lit. 'shut it in'.
- 20
det är okej att inte må bra
it's okay not to be okay
Tip: lit. the same.
- 21
be om hjälp
to ask for help
Tip: lit. the same — the hardest sentence in Swedish.
- 22
höra av sig till någon
to reach out to someone
Tip: lit. 'get in touch with someone'.
- 23
finnas där för en vän
to be there for a friend
Tip: lit. the same.
- 24
det räcker att lyssna
just listening is enough
Tip: lit. 'it's enough to listen'.
- 25
ta det på allvar
to take it seriously
Tip: lit. the same.
- 26
jourlinjen
the crisis line
Tip: lit. the same — Mind's självmordslinjen, 90101.
- 27
det blir bättre
things do get better
Tip: lit. the same.
- 28
vara nedstämd
to feel low
Tip: lit. 'be downcast' — the clinical-adjacent word.
- 29
en tuff period
a bad patch
Tip: lit. 'a tough period'.
- 30
tappa gnistan
to lose your spark
Tip: lit. 'lose the spark'.
- 31
dra sig undan
to withdraw from people
Tip: lit. 'pull oneself away' — the warning sign.
- 32
ställa in gång på gång
to cancel plans repeatedly
Tip: lit. the same.
- 33
märka det på en vän
to notice it in a friend
Tip: lit. the same.
- 34
fråga en gång till
to ask twice
Tip: lit. 'ask one more time' — after the first 'I'm fine'.
- 35
hur är det, på riktigt?
how are you, really?
Tip: lit. the same — the question that opens the door.
- 36
bara sitta med någon
to just sit with someone
Tip: lit. the same.
- 37
man behöver inte rätt ord
you don't need the right words
Tip: lit. the same.
- 38
gå en promenad istället för att prata
to go for a walk instead of talking
Tip: lit. the same — side by side is easier.
- 39
en första linjen-mottagning
a first-line reception
Tip: lit. the same — for young people, without a referral.
- 40
en ungdomsmottagning
a youth clinic
Tip: lit. the same — free, up to about 23.
- 41
en egenremiss
a self-referral
Tip: lit. the same — you can refer yourself.
- 42
en digital vårdgivare
a digital care provider
Tip: lit. the same.
- 43
en stödlinje på kvällen
a support line in the evening
Tip: lit. the same.
- 44
Självmordslinjen
Mind's suicide helpline
Tip: lit. the same — 90101, open around the clock.
- 45
ringa 112 vid akut fara
to call 112 in an emergency
Tip: lit. the same.
- 46
man får alltid ringa
you can always call
Tip: lit. 'one is always allowed to call'.
- 47
att be om hjälp är styrka
asking for help is strength
Tip: lit. the same.