Introductory description

There are no pre-requisite relationships. To our knowledge there are no other post-graduate courses in Public Mental Health in the UK.
This module complements the other optional modules in the Masters in Public Health by focusing on mental health specifically: an emerging area of public health. It addresses the epidemiology of mental health problems, risk and protective factors, the prevention of mental illness, the promotion of mental health and the definition and measurement of well-being.

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

1. Measuring mental health
   Approaches and instruments
   Discourses and definitions
   Common disorders in different age groups: life course patterns

2. Determinants of mental health
   Environmental, physical, social, cultural
   Risk and protective factors
   Resilience
   Links between mental and physical health

3. The promotion of mental health and the prevention of mental illness
   Mental health in families
   Nutrition and mental health
   Physical activity and mental health
   Mental health in school
   Mental health in the workplace

4. Improving mental well-being in the mentally ill
   The economic burden attributable to mental illness
   Screening for mental health
   Problems and risk factors Well-being
   Mindfulness

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Have a systematic understanding of the epidemiology of mental health problems as they affect adults, adolescents and children
• Have a practical understanding of the determinants, risk and protective factors for mental health at different stages in the life course
• Critically evaluate different discourses on the nature of mental well-being and different approaches to measurement
• Have a practical understanding of a range of approaches to mental health promotion and mental illness prevention
• Understand and have a critical awareness of the concepts and evidence regarding interventions for public mental health
• Understand and critically evaluate concepts and practice of public mental health interventions

Indicative reading list

Colton, CW. & Manderscheid, RW. (2006). Congruencies in increased mortality rates, years of potential life lost and causes of death among public mental health clients in eight states. Public health, research, practice and policy 3(2): 1-14
Corrigan, PW., Watson, AC., Gracia, G., Slopen, N., Rasinski, K. & Hall, LL. (2005). Newspaper stories as measures of structural stigma. Psychiatric Services 56: 551-556.
Gilmer, T., Ojeda, VD., Folsom, D., Fuentes, D., Criado, V., Garcia, P. & Jeste, DV. (2006). Costs of community-based public mental health services for older adults: variations related to age and diagnosis. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry 21: 1121- 1126.
Hendryx, MS., Dyck, DG. & Srebnick, D. (1999). Risk-adjusted outcome models for public mental health outpatient programs. Health Services Research 34 (1): 171 – 195.
Huppert, FA., Baylis, N. and Keverne, B. (2005). The science of well-being
OUP; Kings Lynn, GB.
Saxena, S., Llopis, EJ. & Hosman, C. (2006). Prevention of mental and behavioural disorders: implications for policy and practice. World Psychiatry 5 (1): 5-14.
Snowden, LR., Wallace, NT., Kang, SH., Cheng, J. & Bloom, JR. (2007). Adm Policy Ment Health & Ment Health Serv Res.
van ‘t Veer, JTB., Kraan, HF., Drosseart, SHC. & Modde, JM. (2006). Determinants that shape public attitudes towards the mentally ill. Soc Psychaitry Psychiatr Epidemiol 41: 310-317.
Weist, MD. ((2005) Fulfilling the promise of school-based mental health: moving towards a public mental health promotion approach. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology 33 (6): 735-741.
Williams, CL. & Westermeyer, J. (1985). Public health aspects of mental health: the last 75 years of the American Journal of Public Health. AJPH 75 (7): 722-726

Subject specific skills

Sound understanding of subject
Critically evaluate
Reflection

Transferable skills

Numeracy
Thinking and problem solving
written communication
oral communication
Teamwork
Organisation & time management
Use of tools and technology
Commercial awareness
Independence and initiative
Adaptability/Flexibility