Diploma in Mental Health Studies

It is estimated that one in four adults experience some form of mental health problems at some point in their lives and so care for mental health is becoming an increasingly important aspect of health provision in health systems around the world. Anxiety, depression and severe mental problems affect not only the individuals concerned but also their families and friends. Mental health problems result in reduced quality of life and possibly loss of life. It is therefore important to understand mental distress and the ways it can be treated. This free Diploma course will help you understand mental health and mental illness, mental health practise and care in the community. It will tackle the issues of stigma and discrimination in mental health, explain why the promotion of mental well-being is important and give a history of institutions and segregation. The course then introduces the learner to suicide and preventative treatment measures, how to manage violent patients and outlines the complex area of substance abuse. The learner is also introduced to the defining characteristics of normal and abnormal behavioural tendencies. The range of personality disorders, phobias and neurotic behaviours are discussed together with the associated signs and symptoms. The personal and occupational impact of Burnout and Depression are discussed along with the causes and identifiable signs and symptoms. This free online Diploma course will be of great interest to professionals in social and health professions, for anyone who has personal experience of mental health problems and anyone with a general interest in this important subject. 

To qualify for your official ALISON Diploma, Certificate or PDF you must study and complete all modules and score 80% or more in each of the course assessments. A link to your Diploma certificate will then appear under the My Certificates heading of your My Account page.

After completing this course you will: - Understand and define normal behaviour; - Identify the characteristics of normal behaviour, defence mechanisms; - Understand the range of neurotic and psychotic behavioural tendencies; - Identify therapeutic and drug interventions to treat abnormal behaviours; - Cite the causes, signs and symptoms of burnout; - Identify types and classification of depression; - Cite causes sign and symptoms of depression; - Have a general understanding of suicide; - Identify the signs and types of suicide behaviours; - Cite conditions that are likely to cause of suicide; - Identify the most common precipitating factors in violent behaviour; - Identify the methods used to manage the violent patient who is unarmed or armed; - Describe the factors impacting the effect of the particular substance on the individual; - Identify the long and short-term effects of substance abuse; - Identify the signs/symptoms and treatment for overdose and withdrawal of alcohol, opioids and barbiturates; - Understand the physical and psychological dependencies; - Identify behavior changes resulting from substance abuse; - Understand body mechanism adjustments and tolerance levels to substances.