Understand the connection between physical and mental health and improve your ability to identify symptoms and sources of help. Explore the connection between depression/anxiety and physical illness. Around 1 in 3 people have a long-term physical illness, and of these people around 1 in 3 also struggle with mental health problems like depression and anxiety. Symptoms like pain, fatigue, disability, and uncertainty around treatment, can all contribute to depression and anxiety, which in turn can worsen physical symptoms.
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On this course you will learn how mental and physical health interact. You will look in depth at the relationship between physical illness and depression/anxiety and improve your ability to recognise symptoms and sources of help.
What topics will you cover?
- Overview of the mind and body link and why it matters
- The impact of depression and anxiety on health and quality of life
- Approaches to integrating mental and physical healthcare
- Communication skills to overcome barriers to talking about distress in illness
- Challenges to identifying depression and anxiety in people with a physical illness
- Assessment and management of suicide risk
- Self-care techniques and sources of support for depression and anxiety
- Treatment options, including talking therapies and medication
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you'll be able to...
- Explain the mind-body link and how mental and physical illness interact
- Describe the key risk factors, signs and symptoms, and challenges to identifying depression and anxiety in people with a physical illness
- Initiate conversations about mental health and deal effectively with barriers to discussing depression and anxiety
- Demonstrate knowledge of practical coping strategies, treatment options and sources of support for people with depression/anxiety and a physical illness
- Evaluate suicide risk and explain when and how to take action
- Reflect on how healthcare services can provide better care for people depression/anxiety and physical illness
