Course Overview

The duration of this courseis 11-13 weeks.

This qualification is aimed at learners looking to raise their awareness of mental health and the wide range of mental health conditions.

As part of this course you will study ten mandatory units:

UNIT 1 – Understanding mental health

• Section 1 Know what is meant by mental health and mental ill-health
• Section 2 Understand how mental health care has changed over time
• Section 3 Understand the social context of mental illness
• Section 4 Understand the legal context of mental illness

UNIT 2 – Understanding stress

• Section 1 Understand the term ‘stress’
• Section 2 Understand possible causes of stress
• Section 3 Understand how stress can affect an individual
• Section 4 Understand how the demands of daily life can contribute to stress
• Section 5 Understand how stress may be managed
• Section 6 Understand the terms ‘anxiety’ and ‘panic attack’
• Section 7 Understand the possible causes of anxiety
• Section 8 Understand how anxiety can affect the individual and others
• Section 9 Understand how different ways of thinking and behaving can affect anxiety
• Section 10 Understand how anxiety may be managed

UNIT 3 – Understanding depression

• Section 1 Understand the term ‘depression’
• Section 2 Understand the possible causes of depression
• Section 3 Understand how depression affects the individual and others
• Section 4 Understand how the demands of daily life can affect depression
• Section 5 Understand how depression can be managed

UNIT 4 – Understanding phobias

• Section 1 Understand the term ‘phobias’
• Section 2 Understand the possible causes of phobia
• Section 3 Understand how a phobia can affect the individual and others
• Section 4 Understand how phobias man be managed

UNIT 5 – Understanding eating disorders

• Section 1 Understand the term ‘eating disorder’
• Section 2 Understand the causes of eating disorders
• Section 3 Understand how an eating disorder may affect the individual and others
• Section 4 Understand how a specific eating disorder may be managed

UNIT 6 – Understanding Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder – ADHD

• Section 1 Understand the term ‘ADHD’
• Section 2 Understand the causes of ADHD
• Section 3 Understand how ADHD can affect the individual andothers
• Section 4 Understand the symptoms associated with ADHD
• Section 5 Understand how ADHD may be managed

UNIT 7 – Understanding Obsessive Compulsive Disorder – OCD

• Section 1 Understand the term “OCD”
• Section 2 Understand the causes of OCD
• Section 3 Understand how OCD can affect the individual and others
• Section 4 Understand the thoughts and behaviours associated with OCD
• Section 5 Understand how OCD may be managed

UNIT 8 – Understanding Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder – PTSD

• Section 1 Understand the term ‘PTSD’
• Section 2 Understand the causes of PTSD
• Section 3 Understand how PTSD can affect the individual and others
• Section 4 Understand the symptoms associated with PTSD
• Section 5 Understand how PTSD may be managed

UNIT 9 – Understanding dementia

• Section 1 Understand the term ‘dementia’
• Section 2 Understand the causes of dementia
• Section 3 Understand how dementia can affect the individual and others
• Section 4 Understand how dementia may be managed
• Section 5 Understand factors which may adversely affect a person with dementia

UNIT 10 – Understanding postnatal depression

• Section 1 Understand the term ‘postnatal depression’
• Section 2 Understand the causes of postnatal depression
• Section 3 Understand puerperal psychosis
• Section 4 Understand how postnatal depression can affect the mother and others
• Section 5 Understand how preparation for the birth can help reduce the risk of postnatal depression
• Section 6 Understand how postnatal depression may be managed
• Section 7 Understand how puerperal psychosis may be managed

UNIT 11 – Understanding bipolar

• Section 1 Understand the term ‘bipolar disorder’
• Section 2 Understand the causes of bipolar disorder
• Section 3 Understand how bipolar disorder can affect the individual and others
• Section 4 Understand how the demands of daily life can influence the presentation of symptoms of bipolar disorder
• Section 5 Understand how to recognise the symptoms of bipolar disorder
• Section 6 Understand how bipolar disorder may be managed

UNIT 12 – Understanding schizophrenia

• Section 1 Understand the term ‘schizophrenia’
• Section 2 Understand how the media representation of schizophrenia can create confusion about the illness
• Section 3 Understand the causes of schizophrenia
• Section 4 Understand how schizophrenia can affect the individual and others
• Section 5 Understand how schizophrenia may be managed

Assessment Methods

Assessments are due at the end of each unit. Your tutor will assess your work and build up your portfolio of evidence of learning. A certificate will be awarded on satisfactory submission of evidence of learning for the units studied.