Global Mental Health

Programme Aims

Introduction to Mental Health and Disability

This course will provide an overview of how various forms of mental health difficulties and disability are described and classified in high income countries such as the UK and USA. It will introduce diagnostic systems (such as DSM-IV and ICD-10) which will allow future courses to explore how valid these diagnostic systems are for low and middle income countries.

The Global Burden of Mental Health Difficulties

This course will provide an overview of how the global burden of mental health difficulties is measured and how this relates to the burden caused by other forms of illness. The course will critically discuss international differences in the burden caused by mental health difficulties and how this corresponds with differences in available resources.

Cultural, Social and Biological Determinants of Mental Health Difficulties

This course will explore how the manifestation of mental health difficulties can vary across time and cultures. The course will also critically discuss attempts to identify biological mechanisms underlying mental health difficulties and the interplay that these mechanisms might have with social factors.

Research Methods (Qualitative, Quantitative and Health Economics)

This course will provide an overview of research methods including qualitative, quantitative and health economic approaches. The course will equip students to critically appraise research methodologies employed in peer-reviewed research papers.

Mental Health Promotion Across the Life-span

This course will explore ways in which mental health difficulties can manifest across the life-span. The course will also critically discuss ways in which awareness can be heightened and interventions adapted to promote mental health in particular age-groups (e.g. mothers and babies, adolescents and older adults).

Improving Access to Mental Health Care in the Global Context

This course will highlight the scale of the treatment gap for mental health difficulties in low and middle income countries. The course will also explore ways of making culturally appropriate, evidenced-based treatments available to large numbers of individuals in a cost-effective and sustainable way.

Mental Health and Disability: International Law and Policy

This course will explore how mental health and disability legislation varies between high-income versus low and middle-income countries. The course will also critically discuss how international law influences mental health and disability policies across different settings.

Global Mental Health Dissertation

MSc in Global Mental Health students will be required to complete a dissertation project. The project could be a:

• Substantive systematic reviews of literature relevant to an aspect of Global Mental Health.

• Empirical research studies utilising qualitative or quantitative methods.

• Evidenced-based service development plans.

• Evidenced based draft policy documents.

• Documented development of a mental health educational resource developed for stake-holders in a low and middle-income country.