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Continuing Professional Development: MSc Programme Modules (London-based)

GLOBAL MENTAL HEALTH (2470)

ORGANISERS: Professor Vikram Patel, Dr Mary De Silva, Dr Alex Cohen

22 February – 23 March 2012 (Wednesdays 2pm to Fridays 5pm)


AIM
To acquaint students with the public health significance of mental health in the global context, with a particular focus on low- and middle-income countries.


OBJECTIVES
By the end of the module, students should be able to:

  1. understand the broad classification of major mental disorders;
  2. explain the public health significance of mental illness from a global perspective,
  3. understand the application of epidemiological research methods to the study of global mental health;
  4. understand the influence of historical factors, cultural factors, socio-economic factors, conflict and discrimination  on mental disorder;
  5. understand how mental health policies are made; and
  6. understand the principles of primary and community mental health care models.


CONSTITUTENCY
This module is intended for those interested in the relevance of mental health to epidemiology, global public health and health policy.  It is equally suitable for students with or without a background in mental health and allied professions.  This is a jointly run study module accessed by students from the Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.


CONCEPTUAL OUTLINE

  1. Basic concepts:   What is mental illness? How are mental illnesses classified? What are the major types of mental disorders, and what is their impact at different levels of the health care system? What are the mental disorders at the extremes of life (childhood, old age)?  
  2. How do concepts of mental illness vary across cultures?  What are the challenges in assessing mental disorders in cross-cultural comparative research, and how have these been met? 
  3. The public health significance of mental illness in a rapidly developing world: Why are mental disorders of global public health significance?    How is mental health relevant to factors promoting and delaying human development – poverty, literacy, gender bias, urbanization, migration, conflict?  What are the experiences of discrimination and stigma associated with mental illness?
  4. Application of epidemiological methods to the study of international mental health:  How can epidemiology research assist in raising awareness and informing policy and practice? What are the issues to be considered when applying research methods across cultures? 
  5. How are mental health policies made in the global context?
  6. What is the treatment gap?  How can this be reduced, for e.g. by integration of mental health care within routine health care systems?  What models of primary care and community care are effective and acceptable?


TEACHING STRATEGY
Teaching faculty will be drawn from the LSHTM and the Institute of Psychiatry. Teaching methods will include:  essential reading materials (including: the Lancet series on Global Mental Health (2007); the PlOS Medicine series (2009); research articles from both developed and developing countries); established measures of psychiatric morbidity; small group practicals; and Powerpoint based lectures.


LEARNING TIME
The module is made up of 150 Notional Learning Hours – 45 hours contact time, 27 hours directed self-study, 30 hours self-directed learning, and 48 hours assessment, review and revision.


ASSESSMENT
Assessment will be based on a choice of one of two essay questions relating to mental health epidemiology and/or health services and policy. 

FEE

£1,600 including access to LSHTM library and learning resources, study materials and assessment.

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