PMPSMEHE - MSc Psychology of Mental Health

MSc Psychology of Mental Health provides a specialist training programme designed to enable students to gain a comprehensive and thorough understanding of the complexities of mental health and the capacity to help find solutions and treatments for a range of mental health conditions. The course critically examines theoretical and clinical explanations of mental health, providing an integrated understanding of its psychological, biological, and social basis. Students will be taught by experienced clinicians, practitioners and educators and will develop their ability to critically discuss and evaluate theoretical models and empirical research on the causes of mental health problems and the efficacy of different treatments. This multidisciplinary approach allows students to develop their insight and understanding of the psychology of mental health and equips them with a wide of range of professional skills essential for different occupations, including mental health services, social or healthcare services, clinical practice and support, education, and research. The knowledge and skills developed throughout the course also provide a firm foundation for progressing to graduate researcher roles and Doctoral training programmes, for example, in clinical or counselling psychology.

The MSc Psychology of Mental Health programme is designed to:

• stimulate students’ understanding of the complexities of mental health and various psychopathologies, including their causes, symptoms, diagnoses, and treatments.
• enable students to develop a systematic understanding of clinical interventions commonly applied by psychologists and mental health professionals.
• introduce students to a range of psychological therapies used to enhance well-being in clinical and non-clinical populations, including motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioural therapy, mindfulness-based stress reduction techniques, and acceptance and commitment therapy.
• evaluate the evidence base for clinical interventions and psychological therapies across different populations.
• encourage students to think of themselves as active and productive partners in a collaborative venture of learning.
• equip students with the ability to participate in ethical and inclusive practice across a range of contexts, including conducting ethical research, ethical and inclusive conduct in the workplace, and social responsibility.
• provide opportunities for students to examine issues that resonate with their lived experiences and careers aims from a psychological perspective.
• develop students’ confidence and ability to challenge established psychological knowledge and practices.
• allow students from diverse backgrounds to develop the knowledge and skills to transform their lives and make meaningful contributions to their communities.
• prepare students for accredited postgraduate training programmes and employment in different professions and roles.

On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

1. be able to demonstrate a comprehensive and critical understanding of a range of theoretical and clinical models of mental health.
2. demonstrate understanding of clinical interventions applied by psychologists and mental health professionals in the treatment of different mental health conditions.
3. demonstrate understanding of psychological therapies used to enhance well-being in clinical and non-clinical populations, including motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioural therapy, mindfulness-based stress reduction techniques, and acceptance and commitment therapy.
4. have the knowledge and skills required to confidently evaluate the evidence base for clinical interventions and psychological therapies across different populations.
5. have a critical understanding of the empirical basis of psychological knowledge and practice as it relates to mental health and wellbeing.
6. be able to apply a range of research methods and techniques to investigate research questions and test hypotheses of relevance to the psychology of mental health in line with the principles of open science.
7. demonstrate their ability to exercise initiative and personal responsibility, including decision-making in complex and unpredictable situations.
8. critically evaluate arguments, assumptions, and data to make evidence-based judgements.
9. communicate information, ideas, and both problems and solutions to specialist and non-specialist audiences through different modalities.
10. demonstrate confidence, resilience, ambition, and creativity and become inclusive, ethical, and socially responsible professionals in their chosen careers.

QAA benchmark statement for psychology:
https://www.qaa.ac.uk/docs/qaa/subject-benchmark-statements/subject-benchmark-statement-psychology.pdf?sfvrsn=6935c881_13

A range of inclusive and anticipatory methods are used to assess learning, including essays, case formulations, oral and technology mediated presentations, and data analysis exercises. All summative assessments are preceded by an appropriate formative assessment and constructive feedback, and students are supported through the course by psychology academic mentors.

For the award of MSc Psychology of Mental Health students must complete PY7123 and PY7163 before they can take PY7PA6.

Part time students can select a structure that best meets their needs but PY7123 and PY7163 must be completed before a student can start PY7PA6.

PG Certificate in Psychology of Mental Health
60 credits from any combination of modules except PY7PA6
PG Diploma in Psychology of Mental Health
120 credits from all modules except PY7PA6

The teaching, learning and assessment strategy is designed to enable students from diverse backgrounds to develop and demonstrate competence on a range of professional, clinical and transferable skills. Experiential and reflective learning methods are used develop and enhance the knowledge and practitioner skills required for a successful career in occupations related to psychology and health. This is actively supported throughout the course in lectures, seminars, interactive workshops, laboratory sessions, and guided independent learning. The emphasis on reflective and experiential learning helps to prepare students to progress to and excel in postgraduate training or employment in different professional contexts. A range of inclusive and anticipatory methods are used to assess learning, including essays, case formulations, oral and technology mediated presentations, and data analysis exercises. All summative assessments are preceded by an appropriate formative assessment and constructive feedback, and students are supported through the course by psychology academic mentors. Students are encouraged to reflect upon and discuss how the knowledge and skills developed within each module and the programme as a whole can be applied to a wide range of settings and to align this information with their immediate and longer-term career plans.

Successful completion of this course provides graduates with a firm foundation for progression to employment a range of settings, including mental health services, social services, health and social care, and both education and research. The knowledge and skills developed throughout the course also provides a firm foundation for progressing to Doctoral training programmes, for example, in clinical or counselling psychology.

Some of our graduates have gone on to postgraduate clinical education programs at the University of Oxford. Others have progressed onto practitioner roles in IAPTS, and senior management positions in the corporate mental health sector.

You will be required to have:

• a good degree (minimum 2:2) or an equivalent relevant professional qualification in the area of social sciences, health, education and human sciences e.g. psychology, medicine, biomedical science, nursing, health promotion or social work.

Experience of research methods and data collection is preferable.