Defining Mental Health: A Short Introduction
Explore how we define and diagnose mental health problems in society today, and prepare to study mental health further.
Duration
2 weeksWeekly study
3 hours
Defining Mental Health: A Short Introduction
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Understand the complex issues surrounding mental health
The topic of mental health is recognised as one of the challenges facing society today. What is good mental health? What myths surround mental health? How do we define ‘normal’ mental health?
Get answers to these questions and more with this course exploring how we define mental health, designed to prepare you for further study in higher education. You will explore important concepts and definitions related to mental health. You will learn about cultural relativism and the Diagnostic Statistical Manual. This course is a collaboration between Coventry University Scarborough and OCN London.
What topics will you cover?
You will explore the key areas below through case studies, multi-media, collaborative and active learning:
- What is abnormality?
- What is a norm?
- Myth and ideas of mental illness
- Definitions of the concepts of abnormality
- Cultural relativism
- DSM 5 – Diagnostic Statistical Manual – an overview
Learning on this course
On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- Explain the difficulties in defining abnormality and normality
- Identify the difference in abnormality and normality
- Explain the four concepts of abnormality
- Identify cultural variation in defining mental illness
Who is the course for?
This course is for anyone interested in mental health. It’s ideal for people looking to continue to higher education, return to formal learning or those who are considering, or developing, a career in mental health.
Who will you learn with?
Course tutor on Access to HE Social Sciences at CU Scarborough. Background in mental health, psychology and child development. Teaching experience in FE and HE both in the UK and abroad.
Who developed the course?
Coventry University
Coventry secured 5 QS Stars for Teaching and Online Learning in the QS World University Ranking 2020 and has received No. 1 in the world for Massive Open Online Courses in MoocLab’s World University Ranking 2021.
Established
1992Location
Coventry
Learning on FutureLearn
Your learning, your rules
- Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
- Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
- Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores
Join a global classroom
- Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
- Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
- Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others
Map your progress
- As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
- Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
- Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate
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