Overview of Mental Health

Postgraduate | 2026

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Mode
Mode
Your studies will be on-campus, and may include some online delivery
On campus
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Area/Catalogue
PUBH 5005
Course ID icon
Course ID
204720
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Campus
Adelaide City Campus East
Level of study
Level of study
Postgraduate
Unit value icon
Unit value
6
Course owner
Course owner
School of Psychology
Course coordinator
Course coordinator
Matthew Doherty
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Course level
5
Work Integrated Learning course
Work Integrated Learning course
No
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Inbound study abroad and exchange
Inbound study abroad and exchange
The fee you pay will depend on the number and type of courses you study.
No
University-wide elective icon
University-wide elective course
No
Single course enrollment
Single course enrolment
No

Course overview

Overview of Mental Health seeks to introduce counsellors to current understanding about lived experience and the effects of stigma and discrimination for people experiencing mental illness and their significant others. There is opportunity to develop knowledge about the types of disorders as they are currently understood and outlined in the DSM-V or ICD-10. Students will also develop assessment skills to recognize the range of signs and symptoms and facilitate effective communication with other mental health professionals. Emphasis will be placed on the lived experience and recovery model, and a person-centred approach.

Course learning outcomes

  • summarize the contexts in which people are living with mental illness and the effects of stigma and discrimination on the overall health and wellbeing of the community
  • Describe the mental health needs of special populations within the society.
  • describe the range and groupings of mental health issues and the categories commonly assigned through the DSMV or ICD10
  • recognise and appropriately respond to the signs and symptoms associated with mental health issues in the counselling context
  • utilise appropriate terminology to enable communication with other mental health professionals.
  • use a basic understanding of the Mental State Examination and Risk Assessment
  • evaluate the need for, and complete where indicated, referral to a specialised mental health service.
  • describe key features and the relevance of the Recovery Model in a counselling setting.

Availability

Census date Icon
Census date
Fri 04/09/2026
Enrol by date
Enrol by date
Fri 21/08/2026
Last day to W
Last day to W
Fri 18/09/2026
Last day to WF
Last day to WF
Fri 16/10/2026

Class details

Adelaide City Campus East

Class number
Class number 57913
Section
Section WS01
Size
Size 70
Available
Available 64
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
5 Aug - 23 Sep Wednesday 10:10am - 1pm Adelaide City Campus East Barr Smith South, 2060
14 Oct - 11 Nov Wednesday 10:10am - 1pm Adelaide City Campus East Barr Smith South, 2060
Notes:
Enrolment restricted to students in the Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma and Masters programs of Counselling and Psychotherapy.

Prerequisite(s)

  • must have completed all of PUBH5001 Ethics in the Counselling Workplace/PUBH5002 Attachment Processes in the Therapeutic Relationship/PUBH5004 Counselling Skills 2/PUBH5006 Nature of Grief/PUBH5008 Mindfulness-based Counselling Applications AND must have completed 1 of PUBH6001 Cognitive Behaviour Therapy/PUBH6020 Developing a Novel Research Question

Corequisite(s)

N/A

Antirequisite(s)

  • must not have completed PUBHLTH6019 Overview of Mental Health at the University of Adelaide

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The Student Contribution amount displayed below is for students commencing a new program from 2021 onwards. If you are continuing in a program you commenced prior to 1 January 2021, or are commencing an Honours degree relating to an undergraduate degree you commenced prior to 1 January 2021, you may be charged a different Student Contribution amount from the amount displayed below. Please check the Student Contribution bands for continuing students here. If you are an international student, or a domestic student studying in a full fee paying place, and are continuing study that you commenced in 2025 or earlier, your fees will be available here before enrolments open for 2026.