Module PPC-4008:
Mental Health and Wellbeing

Module Facts

Run by School of Human and Behavioural Sciences

20.000 Credits or 10.000 ECTS Credits

Semester 2

Organiser: Prof Fay Short

Overall aims and purpose

This module will provide you with an exciting opportunity to learn from a broad range of experts in the field of mental health. This will broaden your understanding of the mental health, psychological wellbeing, and emotional standing of a client.

Counsellors are required to support clients who may be experiencing a wide range of different physical, emotional, and psychological symptoms. Therapists do not typically diagnose or prescribe, but an understanding of classification systems (e.g. DSM) and associated interventions (e.g. drug therapy) can benefit practice. More importantly, however, understanding the impact of a diagnosis, the possible consequences of interventions, and the roles of other mental health practitioners can help a therapist to better understand the world of the client and support them on their journey through life.

You will develop an insight into the work of other practitioners in the field of mental health, including researchers and clinicians. In applying these different perspectives, you will consider a range of classified disorders (e.g., mood, anxiety) to recognise and support those presenting with specific difficulties. However, you will also be encouraged to look beyond the DSM to view such disorders as part of a continuum, and we will explore the limitations of the medical approach to diagnosis and treatment. In addition to this focus on mental distress, you will be introduced to interventions designed to enhance mental wellness through wellbeing, resilience, and positive psychology training. Throughout this module, you will be encouraged to reflect on your own development as a practitioner so that you are able to apply what you have learnt in your work with clients.

Course content

Topics covered in this module include: • Applied Psychology in Counselling • Beyond the DSM
• Psychopharmacology
• Mood • Anxiety • Psychosis • Child Sexual Abuse
• Dissociation • Sexuality • Wellbeing, Resilience, and Positive Psychology

Please note that these topics are subject to change dependent on staff availability, unexpected circumstances, and the assessed needs of the students

Assessment Criteria

good

• Some insight into the assessment, symptoms, risks, and treatment for different forms of mental distress • Strong knowledge of Mental Health & Wellbeing • Clear understanding and mostly free of factual errors • Some analysis showing critical evaluation and links between ideas • Some originality in approach, interpretation, and/or voice • Some independent research • Coherent arguments with evidence for most claims • Focused and well structured • Good presentation with accurate and appropriate expression • Mostly correct format in appropriate referencing style

threshold

• Limited insight into the assessment, symptoms, risks, and treatment for different forms of mental distress • Some knowledge of Mental Health & Wellbeing • Understanding of the main concepts, but with factual errors in non-core concepts • Limited analysis showing only obvious points of evaluation and links between ideas • Limited originality in approach, interpretation, and/or voice • Limited evidence of independent research • Arguments presented but lack coherence with evidence for only some claims • Focused but with some irrelevant material and weaknesses in structure • Acceptable presentation with appropriate expression • Attempt at correct format in appropriate referencing style

excellent

• Insightful awareness of the assessment, symptoms, risks, and treatment for different forms of mental distress • Comprehensive knowledge of Mental Health & Wellbeing • Detailed understanding with no factual errors • Critical analysis showing evaluation and synthesis of ideas • Originality in approach, interpretation, and/or voice • Extensive independent research • Logically defended arguments with evidence for all claims • Highly focused and well structured • Excellent presentation with accurate and appropriate expression • Correct format in appropriate referencing style

Learning outcomes

  1. Synthesise psychological, social, and pharmacological theories to analyse the continuum of mental health and wellbeing

  2. Explain and evaluate the possible presentations, diagnoses, causal factors, and interventions for psychological difficulties

  3. Discuss the psychological and biological explanations and interventions for relieving mental distress and enhancing mental wellness, with critical evaluation of their empirical evidence base and potential risks

  4. Critically reflect on how own practice may be influenced by the mental health and wellbeing of both the counsellor and client

  5. Orally present critical insights into a therapeutic case study in a group supervision setting

Assessment Methods

Type Name Description Weight
ESSAY What is Mental Health?

Short essay of 500wds explaining your own personal understanding of mental health.

 10.00
COURSEWORK Psychoeducational Resources

Resources that will have real-world benefits to counsellors and clients. You must produce two resources (one for counsellors, one for clients): 1. Resource to support clients in managing their mental health and wellbeing (approx. 1000wds or 10mins or blend thereof). 2. Resource to support counsellors in managing the mental health and wellbeing of clients (1000wds)

 50.00
ORAL Oral Discussion Group Exam

Twenty-minute mock group supervision exam discussing an unseen case study.

 40.00

Teaching and Learning Strategy

Hours
Lecture

Your lectures will be delivered by a range of guest speakers who are experts within the fields of psychology, mental health, and wellbeing.

 20
Workshop

Your case study discussions will involve small group discussions focusing on case studies related to the lecture topic for that week. These sessions will mimic the format of a group supervision session, with a hypothetical case in place of a real experience shared by an attendee.

 10
Private study

Your private independent study should focus on watching the videos and reading beyond the lecture content to gain a deeper understanding of mental health and wellbeing.

 170

Transferable skills

  • Literacy - Proficiency in reading and writing through a variety of media
  • Computer Literacy - Proficiency in using a varied range of computer software
  • Self-Management - Able to work unsupervised in an efficient, punctual and structured manner. To examine the outcomes of tasks and events, and judge levels of quality and importance
  • Exploring - Able to investigate, research and consider alternatives
  • Information retrieval - Able to access different and multiple sources of information
  • Inter-personal - Able to question, actively listen, examine given answers and interact sensitevely with others
  • Critical analysis & Problem Solving - Able to deconstruct and analyse problems or complex situations. To find solutions to problems through analyses and exploration of all possibilities using appropriate methods, rescources and creativity.
  • Presentation - Able to clearly present information and explanations to an audience. Through the written or oral mode of communication accurately and concisely.
  • Teamwork - Able to constructively cooperate with others on a common task, and/or be part of a day-to-day working team
  • Argument - Able to put forward, debate and justify an opinion or a course of action, with an individual or in a wider group setting

Subject specific skills

  • Understand the scientific underpinnings of psychology as a discipline.
  • Apply multiple perspectives to psychological issues and integrate ideas and findings across the multiple perspectives in psychology.
  • Communicate psychological concepts effectively in written form.
  • Communicate psychological concepts effectively in oral form.
  • Be computer literate for the purpose of processing and disseminating psychological data and information.
  • Retrieve and organise information effectively.
  • Handle primary source material critically.
  • Engage in effective teamwork for the purpose of collaborating on psychological projects.
  • Be sensitive and react appropriately to contextual and interpersonal psychological factors.
  • Use effectively personal planning and project management skills.
  • Work effectively under pressure (time pressure, limited resources, etc) as independent and pragmatic learners.
  • Problem-solve by clarifying questions, considering alternative solutions, making critical judgements, and evaluating outcomes.
  • Reason scientifically and demonstrate the relationship between theory and evidence.
  • Understand and investigate the role of brain function in all human behaviour and experience.
  • Be aware of ethical principles and approval procedures.

Resources

Talis Reading list

http://readinglists.bangor.ac.uk/modules/ppc-4008.html

Reading list

Beck, A. T. (1975). Cognitive Therapy and the Emotional Disorders. Oxford, England: International Universities Press. Ellis, A. (2003). Early theories and practices of rational emotive behavior therapy and how they have been augmented and revised during the last three decades. Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, 21, 3, 219-243. Meichenbaum, D. (1977). Cognitive-behavior modification: An integrative approach. New York, US: Springer. Perls, F. (1969). Gestalt Therapy Verbatim. Colorado, US: Real People Press. Short, F. E., & Thomas, P. (2014). Core approaches in counselling and psychotherapy. UK: Routledge. Skinner, B. F. (1938). The behaviour of organisms. MA, US: B. F. Skinner Foundation. Watson, J. B. (1930). Behaviourism. Chicago, US: University of Chicago Press. Watson, J.B. & Rayner, R. (1920). Conditioned emotional reactions. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 3, 1, 1-14.

Pre- and Co-requisite Modules

Courses including this module

Compulsory in courses: