Skip to main content
Part-time courses for adults

Introduction to Mental Health

This course is currently unavailable for booking

There are currently no upcoming dates available for this course. Be the first to know when new dates are announced by joining the mailing list.

Register your interest

This 10-week, 20-hour module introduces learners to the principles, challenges, and practices of mental health care in Wales and the UK.

Covering key topics such as mental health legislation, types of mental health conditions, therapeutic approaches, DSM-5 criteria for diagnosis, and support services, the course also explores the impact of mental health on individuals and communities.

Learners will engage with case studies, practical scenarios, and discussions to assess mental health needs, ethical responsibilities, and practitioner resilience in mental health care environments.

Trauma-informed practice, cultural sensitivity, and interagency collaboration will be central themes.

Learning and teaching

On successful completion of the module, a student will be able to:

  • Understand the core mental health legislation and procedures relevant to public, private, and third sector services in Wales and the UK.
  • Identify signs, symptoms, and indicators of common mental health conditions.
  • Evaluate the roles and responsibilities of professionals in mental health care.
  • Reflect on the impact of mental health on individuals and communities.
  • Apply safe, ethical, and person-centred mental health practices within professional contexts.
  • Recognise the importance of multi-agency working and effective communication in mental health care.
  • Understand the DSM-5 criteria for diagnosing mental health conditions.

Coursework and assessment

Type of assessment

% Contribution

Title

Summative

30%

Weekly Reflective Learning Journal linking mental health principles to practice

Summative

70%

Written Case Study Analysis applying mental health frameworks to realistic scenarios

Reading suggestions

  • Kitwood, T. (1997) Dementia Reconsidered: The Person Comes First. Buckingham: Open University Press.
  • Brooker, D. (2007) Person-Centred Dementia Care: Making Services Better. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
  • Hughes, J.C., Lloyd-Williams, M., & Sachs, G.A. (2010) Supportive Care for the Person with Dementia. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Innes, A., Archibald, C., & Murphy, C. (2004) Dementia Care Mapping: Applications Across Cultures. London: Hawker Publications.
  • Welsh Government. (2020) Dementia Action Plan for Wales 2018-2022. Cardiff: Welsh Government.
  • GOV.UK. (2025) Dementia Profile: Prevalence and Supporting Well Topics Statistical Commentary, March 2025. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dementia-profile-prevalence-and-supporting-well-topics-statistical-commentary-march-2025 (Accessed: 25 April 2025).
  • Alzheimer's Society. (2025) Using Technology to Support Independent Living. Available at: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/using-technology-to-support-independent-living (Accessed: 25 April 2025).

Library and computing facilities

As a student on this course you are entitled to join and use the University’s library and computing facilities. Find out more about using these facilities.

Accessibility

Our aim is access for all. We aim to provide a confidential advice and support service for any student with a long term medical condition, disability or specific learning difficulty. We are able to offer one-to-one advice about disability, pre-enrolment visits, liaison with tutors and co-ordinating lecturers, material in alternative formats, arrangements for accessible courses, assessment arrangements, loan equipment and dyslexia screening.