This course aims to enable students to develop an understanding of how mental health difficulties are classified and to develop an awareness of their epidemiology, and to introduce students to fundamental issues in Global Mental Health in particular concepts such as the treatment-gap will be explored. This course also aims to explore the concepts of: illness, disability and recovery, and aims to enable students to learn about the distinctions between different types of psychological therapy, the association between mental and physical health and will discuss the ways in which the burden of mental health difficulties are measured. Finally this course aims to enable students to critically discuss key publications related to Global Mental Health.

This course will take place over 10 teaching weeks in semester 1.

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Two components of written assessment:

■ 50% Create an Academic Poster

■ 50% Design an Information Sheet for Mental Health Professionals or for Patients (1500 words)

This course aims to enable students, to develop an understanding of how mental health difficulties are classified and to develop an awareness of their epidemiology. Fundamental issues in Global Mental Health in particular concepts such as health, illness, disability, recovery and the treatment-gap will be explored. Finally, this course aims to explore the association between mental and physical health, issues of equality and equity and will also discuss the ways in which the burden of mental health difficulties are measured.

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

■ Compare the different diagnostic systems that are used to classify mental health difficulties and estimate their global epidemiology.

■ Examine the concept of 'recovery', discuss the various ways in which outcome following mental health difficulties can be assessed and appraise the importance of psychological therapies in the recovery process.

■ Critically appraise what is meant by the term 'Treatment-gap' and estimate the size of the treatment gap for different conditions in different countries.

■ Critically discuss the associations between physical and mental health and critically discuss the concepts of equality and equity in terms of treatment provision.

■ Synthesise and effectively communicate information relating to an appropriate area of research within the field of Global Mental Health.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.