Defining Mental Health: A Short Introduction (FutureLearn)

Offered by Coventry University,
Defining Mental Health: A Short Introduction (FutureLearn)

Explore how we define and diagnose mental health problems in society today, and prepare to study mental health further. 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?

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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

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
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