Course Catalogue

Media and Mental Health FTV4120

  • Academic Session: 2026-27
  • School: School of Culture and Creative Arts
  • Credits: 20
  • Level: Level 4 (SCQF level 10)
  • Typically Offered: Either Semester 1 or Semester 2
  • Available to Visiting Students: Yes
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No
  • Curriculum For Life: No

Short Description

'Media and Mental Health' investigates the intersection between screen (and related) media and the field of mental health and well-being. Topics may include issues such as: the mediated representation of mental illness; autobiographical illness narratives; creative arts as therapy; mental health influencers; discourses of self-care; etc. Students will develop their critical thinking in this area by reviewing a media artefact in a short podcast and analysing mental health discourses in an essay.

Timetable

10 x 1 hour lecture as scheduled in MyCampus

10 x 1 hour seminar as scheduled in MyCampus

1 x 2 hour screening

Requirements of Entry

None

Excluded Courses

None

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

The standard assessments for this course are: 

■ Podcast 10 minutes in length - 40%  

■ Essay 2,500 words - 60% 

 

If required, for instance where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, the following alternatives are available: 

■ There are no alternatives to the assessments, but extensions to the deadlines can be offered as reasonable adjustment (Students should follow the usual process for extensions). 

 

Further reasonable adjustments may be provided where necessary. Students are encouraged to consult with the course convenor.  

Course Aims

This course aims to:

 

■ Introduce key topics, scholarly debates and social concerns at the intersection of media and mental health

■ Apply critical methods developed in film, TV and media studies to the field of mental health

■ Examine media as discourses which serve as means of social construction around mental health

■ Cultivate podcasting as a medium for critical analysis of media

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students will be able to:

 

■ Critically engage with key topics and debates at the intersection of media and mental health

■ Evaluate the relationship between film, TV and related media to the field of mental health

■ Create a podcast a vehicle for critical media analysis

■ Analyse discourses as a form of critical media analysis

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

No exceptions