Mental Health and the Mind

About

Mental health conditions, including depression and anxiety, are significant challenges worldwide, accounting for approximately 14% of the global burden of disease.

This module equips students from a range of disciplines, including social sciences, medicine, and other fields, with a foundational understanding of the development and manifestation of mental health conditions, their diverse impacts, and approaches to treatment.

It explores key categories of mental health conditions, multiple perspectives for understanding mental health and the mind and effective treatment approaches.

Week one: General Introduction and Mental Disorders

Week one introduces the general aspects of mental health conditions, discussing the main categories of conditions such as mood disorders, personality disorders, neurodevelopmental disorders, psychotic disorders, and eating disorders.

Introduction to Mental Health and the Module
Mood Disorders
Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Psychotic Disorders
Personality Disorders
Eating Disorders

Week two: Multiple Perspectives in Mental Health

Week two delves into various perspectives for understanding mental health, such as developmental, sociocultural, neurobiological, and psychodynamic approaches.

Developmental Perspective
Psychodynamic Perspective
Sociocultural Perspective
Neurobiological Perspective
Formative Assessment: Student Group Presentations and Peer Feedback

Week three: Treatment and Healthcare Settings

Week three focuses on psychological treatment options.

Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Mental Health in Minority Groups
Summative Assessment: MCQ exam and 1,500-word blog

Please note that the teaching schedule may be subject to change.

Course leader

Dr Elizabeth Li

Course aim

This module aims to:

- Introduce students with limited prior knowledge of mental health to foundational concepts in mental health and mental disorders.
- Develop a basic understanding of factors associated with mental health issues and their impact on individuals.
- Provide an accessible overview of key mental health conditions, multiple perspectives on mental health, and approaches to care and treatment.
- Inspire interest in further study or careers in mental health–related fields.

For students with some existing knowledge of mental health who are seeking more advanced insights, we recommend Session Two: Mental Disorder and Psychological Treatment (ISSU0138).

Fee info