Overview of Mental Health

Postgraduate | 2026

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area/catalogue icon
Area/Catalogue
PUBH 5005
Course ID icon
Course ID
204720
Level of study
Level of study
Postgraduate
Unit value icon
Unit value
6
Course level icon
Course level
5
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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
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Note:
Course data is interim and subject to change

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.

Prerequisite(s)

N/A

Corequisite(s)

N/A

Antirequisite(s)

N/A